<![CDATA[Lead (Pb) contamination in water poses serious environmental and health risks, necessitating the development of effective and sustainable adsorbents for its removal. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize magMCM-41 composites derived from rice husk silica, and evaluate their performance for Pb(II) ion removal in aqueous solutions. The magMCM-41 was prepared by integrating magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles into a mesoporous silica framework via co-preparation and sol-gel methods using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template. Characterization by XRD, FTIR, BET, and PSA confirmed successful composite formation, revealing a high specific surface area o f 476.744 m2/g, a mesoporous framework (pore diameter 3.83 nm), and an average particle size of 362.7 nm. Adsorption conditions were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM); pH positively influenced capacity, whereas adsorbent dosage had a negative effect. The maximum adsorption capacity was 115.77 mg/g at pH 5 with 0.05 g of adsorbent. The Dubinin-Radushkevich model best described the adsorption equilibrium (R2=0.935), indicating physisorption on a heterogeneous surface. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed a spontaneous and exothermic process. These results demonstrate that rice husk-derived magMCM-41 is a sustainable and magnetically separable adsorbent with high potential for Pb(II) remediation.]]>
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