Eriochrome Blue Black modified activated carbon as solid phase extractor for removal of Pb(II) ions from water samples

Abstract In the current study, a sensitive and simple method for the removal of lead Pb(II), from water samples prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), was investigated. The method utilized activated carbon (AC) physically modified with Eriochrome Blue Black (EBB) as a solid-phase extractant. Surface properties of the AC-EBB phase were characterized by FT-IR and SEM. The separation parameters for effective adsorption of lead Pb(II), including effects of pH, initial concentration of Pb(II), coexisting ions and shaking time using batch method were studied. The optimum pH value for the separation of Pb(II) on the new sorbent was 7.0, and the maximum static adsorption capacity of Pb(II) onto the AC-EBB was 127.896 mg/g at this pH and after 1 h contact time. The Pb(II) adsorption data were modeled using Langmuir adsorption isotherms. Results demonstrated that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto activated carbon followed pseudo second-order kinetic model.