Performance of Cow Bone Biochar in Pb(II) Adsorption: Comparative Analysis of Batch and Fixed‐Bed Column Techniques

ABSTRACT This study investigates cow bone biochar (CBBC), a food byproduct, as an adsorbent for Pb(II) removal from water. Physicochemical characterization revealed that CBBC possesses a mesoporous structure with a BET surface area of 78.9 m 2 /g and abundant oxygen‐containing functional groups that provide active sites for metal binding. Batch experiments analyzed using the Langmuir model ( R 2 = 0.99) confirmed the monolayer adsorption capability of CBBC. The effects of flow rate, starting lead concentration, and bed height on adsorption performance were evaluated in fixed‐bed column experiments. The findings indicated that at an influent concentration of 100 mg/L, the maximum adsorption capacity was 151.35 mg/g, highlighting the effectiveness of CBBC. The adsorption mechanism was analyzed using the Thomas, Adams‐Bohart, and Yoon‐Nelson models, which agreed with the findings of earlier studies. CBBC effectively removes Pb(II) from water, making it a promising material for practical water treatment applications. This study advances knowledge on utilizing agricultural byproducts, such as cow bone, for environmental remediation, offering a sustainable approach to waste utilization and pollution reduction.