Removal of lead by untreated coffee grounds was investigated in a packed bed up-flow column. The experiments were conducted to study the effect of important design parameter such as flow rate (5, 7 and 10 mL/min). Data confirmed that the breakthrough curves were dependent on flow rate. At a bed height of 7.5 cm and flow rate of 10 mL min-1, the metal-uptake capacity of coffee grounds for lead was found to be 78.95 mg g-1. The breakthrough time increased and the saturation time decreased with the increase of flow rate. The Adams–Bohart, Thomas and BDST models were applied to the adsorption under varying experimental conditions to predict the breakthrough curves and to evaluate the model parameters of the fixed-bed column that are useful for process design. The Adams–Bohart model was in good agreement with the experimental data. The untreated coffee grounds column study states the value of the excellent adsorption capacity for the removal of Pb (II) from aqueous solution.
