Most heavy metals are well-known toxic and carcinogenic agents and when discharged into
wastewater represent a serious threat to the human population and the fauna and flora of the
receiving water bodies. The present study aims to develop a procedure for Pb (II) removal.
This procedure is based on using powdered activated carbon, which was prepared from
walnut shells that were generated as plant wastes and modified with potassium carbonate
and phosphoric acid as chemical agents. The main parameters, such as effect of pH, effect of
sorbent dosage, Pb (II) concentrations, and various contact times influence the sorption process.
The experimental results were analyzed by using Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, and
Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption models. The kinetic study of Pb (II) on activated carbon
from walnut shells was performed based on pseudo- first order and pseudo- second order
equations. The data indicate that the adsorption kinetics follow the pseudo- second order
rate. The procedure was successfully applied for Pb (II) removal from aqueous solutions.