Removal of Heavy Metals onto KOH-activated Ash-rich Sludge Adsorbent

This work was aimed to characterize ash-rich adsorbent derived from palm oil mill effluent sludge (POME sludge) for heavy metals removal from aqueous solution. The adsorbents were characterized according to specific surface area, surface morphology and elemental compositions. Sludge adsorbent exhibits high adsorption capacity for both copper(II) and lead(II), while its ash derivative demonstrates comparable removal of lead(II). Results indicate the important role of sludge ash in the adsorption of heavy metals. The study suggests the potential use of ash-rich POME sludge for industrial wastewater treatment.