ABSTRACT This study shows the effect of adsorbent dosage and contact time of activated carbon produced from palm kernel for adsorption of lead. Investigation shows that adsorption of lead by the activated palm kernel reached a maximum after 132 minutes where 67% of lead in the solution was adsorbed. This occurred at an activated carbon concentration of 0.5g/l. Generally, adsorption rate was shown to increase with increase in concentration of the activated carbon until the optimal was reached. The adsorption of lead by the activated palm kernel (APK) followed the Langmuir isotherm and the Freundlich isotherm but deviates from the Tempkin isotherm.

Keywords: Activated carbon, Contact time, Carbon dosage, lead, Isotherms.