Removal of cadmium(II) from aqueous solution by adsorption onto modified algae and ash

Pollution with cadmium ions has serious negative consequences on human health and environment. Adsorption of low-cost materials represents a viable option for the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous media. In this study are comparatively discussed the adsorption behaviour of cadmium(II) on two low-cost materials, one of biologic nature (marine algae) and other of inorganic nature (ash), after their treatment with alkaline solution. The influence of contact time and initial cadmium ions concentration was studied in batch system, for each type of adsorbent. In optimum experimental conditions (solution pH of 5.0; adsorbent dose of 8 g L−1 ) and an initial cadmium concentration of 360mg L−1, the obtained uptake capacities reach to 34.15mg g−1 for the modified algae and to 43.12mg g−1 for the modified ash, respectively. The uptake data were analyzed using two isotherm models (Langmuir and Freundlich) and the models’ parameters were evaluated. The results indicate that t heLangmuir model provides the best correlation of experimental data for both adsorbents, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 41.8mg g−1 for modified algae and 48.0 mg g−1 for modified ash, respectively. The kinetics of the cadmium uptake was modelled using the pseudofirst order, pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusion model equations. It was shown that the pseudo-second order kinetic equation could best describe the adsorption kinetics of cadmium ions, whatever the nature of adsorbent.