The increasing discharge of toxic heavy metals such as lead (Pb²⁺) and cadmium (Cd²⁺) into aquatic ecosystems has emerged as a critical environmental challenge due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and severe toxicity even at trace levels. This study develops a sustainable heavy metal remediation framework using activated groundnut shell–derived adsorbents for efficient removal of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions from industrial wastewater. The research integrates adsorption-based water treatment principles with material modification strategies to enhance surface reactivity, porosity, and functional group availability of low-cost agricultural waste biomass. A comprehensive evaluation of adsorption mechanisms, including surface complexation, ion exchange, and pore diffusion, is conducted using insights from previously reported biosorption systems (Escudero et al., 2019; Argun & Dursum, 2008). Comparative performance considerations are drawn from similar low-cost adsorbents and activated carbon systems, demonstrating that chemically and thermally modified biomass materials significantly improve heavy metal uptake efficiency (Abdulrazak et al., 2017).

The framework also incorporates optimization variables such as adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH, and surface morphology to maximize adsorption efficiency. FTIR and surface characterization evidence from similar biosorbent systems highlight the importance of hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine functional groups in binding metal ions (Ali et al., 2020). The study further interprets performance limitations of raw and carbonized groundnut shell bioadsorbents and proposes optimization strategies for overcoming residual contamination levels. Findings suggest that activated groundnut shell adsorbents offer a scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solution for industrial wastewater remediation, although performance constraints persist under high metal concentration conditions.