REMOVAL OF LEAD… Abdullahi, Sati and Usman FJS FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS) Vol. 4 No. 2, June, 2020, pp 401 - 408 401 REMOVAL OF LEAD (Pb 2+ ) IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY ADSORPTION USING SUGARCANE BAGASSE ACTIVATED CARBON COATED WITH MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES * Abdullahi, M., Sati, S. Y. and Usman, A. H. Department of Applied Chemistry, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State-Nigeria * Corresponding Author’s E-mail: abchemist2020@yahoo.com amuhammad2@fudutsinma.edu.ng ABSTRACT An experiment to remove lead (II) ions through adsorption from its aqueous solution using Sugarcane Bagasse Activated carbon (SBAC) was carried out. As one of the ways employ to reduce the high cost of treatment of industrial effluents. Agricultural wastes could be considered as suitable material for the production of Activated Carbon due it high carbon contents, environmentally friendly and low cost of production. In this work, activated carbon was produced by chemical activation with sulphuric acid (H2SO4) of sugarcane bagasse materials. It was then coated with magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4) prepared by chemical precipitation of Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ salt from aqueous solution and tested for its efficiency as an adsorbent for the removal of Lead(II) ion from aqueous solution .The surface morphology, structural and functional groups present were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Shift and disappearance of some adsorption bands in the sugarcane bagasse activated carbon coated with magnetic nanoparticles testify the formation of the composite. Optical properties were determined using UV Vis spectroscopy shows a wavelength (λ max )of 400nm. Adsorption parameters such as effect of pH, contact time, initial concentration of Lead ion and adsorbent dosage were studied. Neutral medium was the optimum pH condition needed for the removal of lead with the percentage removal efficiency of 91%. It was found to be highly efficient at 0.4g of the dosage and at contact time of 60 minutes. This sugarcane bagasse is useful in adsorbing heavy metal in an aqueous solution. Keywords: Adsorption, Activated carbon, Magnetic nanoparticles, Lead (II) INTRODUCTION Heavy metals are natural elements characterized by rather their high atomic mass and high density as well. Although typically occurring in rather low concentration, they can be found all through the crust of our planet. Commonly, a density of at least 5 g cm −3 is used to define a heavy metal and to differentiate it from others, “light” metals (Saleh et al, 2018). Heavy metals are quite different from organic waste pollutants and persistently continue to remain as non-biodegradable species in the environment which undergo bioaccumulation and biomagnifications in organisms (Muhammad et al, 2018). Bioaccumulation itself is a process through which concentration of a chemical in biological organism increase over time above the chemical’s level in the environment (Alexander, 2019). As trace elements, some heavy metals (e.g. Copper, Selenium, Chromium, and Zinc) are essential to maintain the metabolism of the human body. However, at higher concentrations they can be poisonous (Mohsen A. Hashem, 2007). Studies of humans as well as laboratory animals have reported the adverse effects of lead on the blood, kidneys, nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems (Ab Latif Wani et al, 2015). Serious brain and nervous system damage resulted due to prolong exposure (Tan et al, 2014).EPA has considered lead to be a probable human carcinogen, and under more recent assessment guidelines, it would likely be classified to be carcinogenic to humans. Activated carbons are extremely versatile adsorbents with major industrial significance. The world consumption of activated carbons is steadily increasing and new applications are always emerging, particularly those concerning environmental pollution remediation, which should help to sustain demand for them (Kaghazchi , 2007). Important applications are related to their use in water treatment for the removal of flavor, color, odor and other undesirable organic impurities from water. It is also used in industrial wastewater and gas treatment due to the necessity for environmental protection and also for material recovery purposes (Kaghazchi, 2007). However, the cost of the commercial activated carbon has remained high, limiting its applicability. The use of low cost raw materials such as agricultural wastes for the production of activated carbon can go a long way towards reducing the cost of commercial one. Moreover, transforming agricultural wastes into valuable end products may lead to crops value addition as well as reducing problems of solid waste management. Yearly, sugar manufacturing industries in Vietnam disposed of thousands of tons of sugarcane bagasse as a waste after extraction and processing of sugar (Tran Van Thuan et al 2016). Consequently, untreated sugarcane bagasse elimination is not FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS) ISSN online: 2616-1370 ISSN print: 2645 - 2944 Vol. 4 No. 2, June, 2020, pp 401 - 408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2020-0402-224