Recycling of Date Pits Into a Green Adso

This study explores the recycling of date pits (DPs) as a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of selected heavy metals (HMs) from artificially contaminated aqueous solutions. The research aims to assess the efficacy of raw date pits (RDP) and burnt date pits (BDP) in adsorbing targeted heavy metals, with findings indicating that BDP is significantly more efficient, particularly for the absorption of Cu(II). A fractional factorial design (2 k−p – FrFD) approach was employed to establish the experimental framework, examining the impact of four critical factors on the maximum percentage of removal (Y): pH, adsorbent dose (AD), heavy metal concentration (HMC), and contact time (CT). The analysis utilized Pareto charts, normal and half-normal plots, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 95% confidence level to identify statistically significant variables affecting removal rates. Optimization plots revealed that increased pH and adsorbent dose positively influenced the Cu(II) removal percentage. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided insights into the surface morphology of both adsorbent types, contributing to the characterization of their effectiveness in environmental cleanup applications.