In the present study, attempts have been made to use Cucumis Melo peel for the preparation of activated carbon with a view to use it in the treatment of wastewater and industrial effluent. The air-dried chopped Cucumis Melo peels are carbonized using sulphuric acid and characterized by the methods suggested by the Bureau of Indian Standards. It has been planned to study about the nature of the surface of the adsorbent using Scanning Electron Microscope and FTIR. Batch adsorption experiments were performed as a function of pH, contact time, solute concentration and adsorbent dose. The optimum pH required for maximum adsorption were found to be 6.0.The experimental equilibrium adsorption data are tested for the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubnin Isotherm equations and the results were interpreted. Adsorption kinetics data were modeled using the Lagergren, Elovich equations and intraparticle diffusion models. The results indicate that the First-order model best describes adsorption kinetic data.
