Effectiveness of HCl-Activated Duck Eggshell (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) for Pb²⁺ Removal from Well Water

Abstract

Clean water is essential for human health; however, Pb²⁺
contamination in well water remains a serious environmental concern,
particularly in areas with industrial activities and inadequate waste
management. This study investigated the
effectiveness of HCl-activated eggshells as an adsorbent for Pb²⁺
removal from well water. Eggshells were cleaned, chemically activated
with hydrochloric acid (HCl), and applied to well water samples. A 2 g
adsorbent dose was used with a contact time of 1 hour, and the
eggshells were activated using 0.5 M HCl. Pb²⁺ concentrations were
measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The
initial Pb²⁺ concentration of 0.0335 mg/L decreased to 0.0310 mg/L
after treatment with non-activated eggshells (7.46% removal), while
HCl-activated eggshells reduced the concentration to 0.0109 mg/L
(67.46% removal). These results demonstrate that HCl activation
significantly enhances the adsorption capacity of eggshells for Pb²⁺
removal. The final Pb²⁺ concentration of 0.0109 mg/L was below the
0.03 mg/L threshold for well water, indicating that HCl-activated
eggshells were effective in reducing Pb²⁺ contamination. However, this
value remains slightly above the 0.01 mg/L drinking water limit;
therefore, further treatment or optimization may be required if the
treated water is intended for direct consumption.