Coconut-based activated carbons were modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The activated carbons, which were modified by different concentrations of SDS, were characterized by acid/base titrations, textural analysis (BET), atomic absorption spectrochemical analysis and Zeta potential measurements. The effects of SDS modification on Pb2+ absorption were studied further. The results indicate that after the modification of SDS, there are new functional groups on the surface of modified activated carbons and the number of functional group has changed remarkably, the total acidity decreases observably, but the total alkalinity increases dramatically. With the increase of surface load with SDS, the Pb2+ adsorption mass of activated carbons increases and the optimal pH for Pb2+ adsorption of the SDS modified activated carbons is 5. The experimental data are simulated better by Freundlich isotherm model for the modified activated carbons, and the experimental data are simulated better by Langmuir isotherm model for unmodified ones.
