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This research presents, the use of heavy metals in industrial processes has led to their accumulation in the environment, posing risks to both human and animal health. Consequently, researchers have been continuously developing methods for heavy metal removal. This study employed sago waste as an adsorbent for heavy metal ions due to its abundance as an agricultural by-product in Narathiwat Province. Sago waste possesses a highly porous structure and functional groups that enhance adsorption efficiency. Although heavy metals are often present in concentrations ranging from ppm to ppb levels, sago waste can simultaneously adsorb multiple metal ions.

Through material modification, it was found that carbonisation at 250°C for 1 hour followed by immersion in 98% concentrated sulfuric acid for 4 hours produced highly effective activated carbon. One gram of this activated carbon could adsorb copper, nickel, cadmium, zinc, and lead ions within 15 minutes, achieving adsorption efficiencies of 96.02–99.39%. Compared to previous studies, which primarily focused on a limited number of metal ions and required 180 minutes to 20 hours for adsorption, this study significantly reduced processing time while increasing the variety of metals adsorbed. Furthermore, conventional pre-treatment of unmodified sago waste took more than 15 hours. The findings demonstrate the potential of sago waste as a cost-effective and efficient material for removing heavy metals from natural water sources and industrial wastewater.