Removal of Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Two Low-cost Materials

This study compared the abilities of two low-cost materials: a dried activated sludge and sunflower leaves to remove cadmium from aqueous solutions. Kinetic data and equilibrium sorption isotherms were measured in batch conditions. Kinetics of cadmium sorption was time contact and initial cadmium concentration dependent. The cadmium uptake of these two low-cost materials was quantitatively evaluated using sorption isotherms. Results indicated that the Langmuir model gave a better fit to the experimental data than the Freundlich equation. A high cadmium sorption was observed by both these materials. The sunflower leaves, were the most effective to uptake cadmium ions with a maximum sorption capacity about 147.06 mg/g compared to that of activated sludge 103.03 mg/g.