Efficient removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution by using an exothermic padding waste derived magnetic adsorbent

Removal of Pb(II) from waterbody is a critical issue due to the high toxicity, non-biodegradability, and abundant sources of Pb(II). However, sustainable development of cost-effective, recoverable, and magnetic adsorbent for efficient removal of Pb(II) is still challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a promising approach to convert non-degradable municipal solid waste to efficient adsorbent for Pb(II). With exothermic padding waste as precursor, adsorbent with hierarchical porous structures was facilely prepared through ball-milling and subsequent acid-treatment. When used as adsorbent, high removal rate of 96.4% and adsorption capacity of 169.3 mg g −1 were obtained under appropriate conditions. Furthermore, due to the magnetic property, the used adsorbent can be recovered through an external magnet for next adsorption cycle. With the advantages of facile preparation, excellent adsorption performance, good reusability, and simultaneous management of non-degradable solid waste and wastewater, the work provides a novel strategy for preparation of efficient adsorbent, exhibiting great potential in environmental applications.