Using activated carbon (AC) and samples obtained by heat and sulfurizi
ng treatments of the material, the adsorption of Pb2+ from aqueous sol
ution was studied at two pH values and at three temperatures in the ra
nge 25-45-degrees-C. Adsorbents were prepared either by heat treatment
of AC from 30 to 900-degrees-C in N, or H2S, or by treatment of the m
aterial first at 30-degrees-C successively in SO2 and H2S, and then at
200-degrees-C in N2. Their characterization was in terms of textural
properties and surface chemistry. Techniques used were gas adsorption
(N2, -196-degrees-C), mercury porosimetry, density measurements (He, 3
0-degrees-C), and FT-IR spectroscopy. The treatments effected on AC or
iginated a great increase in the adsorption of Pb2+, but only when it
occurred from solutions of metallic ion at unchanged pH and at 25-degr
ees-C. Adsorption decreased strongly by pH and temperature variations,
except for AC. The adsorption rate depended on the adsorbent, pH, and
temperature.