N-Doped Porous Carbon with Outstanding Pb²⁺ Adsorption Capacity in Wastewater

An N-doped porous carbon (NPC) with porous structure was successfully prepared by a one-step calcination method. The NPC with its abundant modified active functional groups was used in adsorption experiments, showing that the adsorption capacity of NPC for Pb2+ was up to 179.86 mg g(-1) at pH 5. It displayed a fast kinetic adsorption rate and high selective adsorption and cyclic adsorption capacities. The Pb2+ adsorption mechanism consisted in cationic-pi interactions and electrostatic attraction. Thus, the developed NPC has a high potential for application in the removal of Pb2+ from wastewater, due to its excellent adsorption behavior and porous structure.