Kinetic and equilibrium study of pyrolysed nano-sized groundnut shell as absorbent for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in aqueous medium

Even in the current period, ecologists and industrialists still need help removing heavy metals from their sources, such as industrial wastes and wastewater. This work aimed to determine the appropriate mass for metal adsorption utilising groundnut shells to remove Pb and Cd ions from industrial effluent. The heavy metal adsorption rate was also analysed as a function of pH, absorbent mass, contact duration, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature. According to the results, the best forms for the adsorption of Pb2+ and Cd(2+)were a pH of 6.0, a biomass weight of 0.5 g, a temperature of 65 degrees C, an initial concentration of metal of less than 100 mg/dm(3), and 30 minutes contact time. The research found that variations in these parameters, above or below their ideal range, influenced the absorption rate of Pb2+ and Cd2+ by groundnut shell absorbent. Analysis of the isotherms showed that the Langmuir isotherm was the best match. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics. It was determined that groundnut shells could be employed as a cost-efficient and eco-friendly acceptable adsorbent in treating wastewater containing toxic metals.