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In this study, activated carbon (AC) was prepared from Typha orientalis or commonly known as cattail leaves using physical and chemical activation phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), as dehydrating agent. A two-stage process was used, i.e., semi-carbonization stage at 200 °C for 15 min as first stage followed by second stage activation, at 500 °C for 45 min. The precursor material with the impregnated agent was exposed straight away to semi-carbonization and activation temperature using a laboratory scale muffle furnace (Carbolite RHF 1500, England) under static condition in a self-generated atmosphere.

The best condition in AC production was based on chemical activation which is AC2 with 2 M of H₃PO₄. AC2 has the highest removal efficiency, 97.4 % in 4 ppm concentration of Pb(II) and percentage yield of 62.73 % could be reached …