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Locally available apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) shells classified as a waste product from fruit processing, were alkali activated in order to develop an efficient heavy metal ions sorbent for water purification. To examine the changes occurred after alkali treatment, raw (SH) and modified apricot shells (SHM) were thoroughly characterized in terms of their chemical composition and surface properties. Chemical analysis revealed that alkaline treatment causes the disintegration of hemicellulose (its content decreased from 19.2 to 3.5 %), which was in accordance with FTIR results. SEM micrographs and the mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed a larger surface area and porosity of SHM. Bohem's acid-base titration method indicated that the most of the SHM surface carboxylic groups were in sodium salt form and together with the pH of points of zero charge showed increase of surface alkalinity after modification. Treatment with NaOH enhanced the adsorption capacity by 154, 61 and 90 % for Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ and Pb 2+ , respectively. The amount of cations released from SHM was almost equal to the amount of adsorbed metal ions, suggesting ion exchange mechanism. The pseudo-second order kinetic indicated that the heavy metals cations were bound predominantly by complexation. In order to establish the effectiveness of the biosorbent in real wastewater sample, SHM was employed for cleaning-up of drain water emanating from atomic adsorption spectrophotometer. The SHM showed high removal efficiency towards multiple metal ions. The amounts of Fe, Pb, Cu and Cr ions were reduced by 97, 87, 81 and 80 %, respectively, while Ni and Zn amounts were reduced for 33 and 14 %. Used biosorbent SHM can be successfully regenerated with HCl (desorption > 95 %) and after regeneration biosorbent can be reused or it can be safely disposed.

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