Modeling of adsorption and ultrasonic desorption of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) on local bentonite

The adsorption and ultrasonic desorption of toxic heavy metal cations (i.e., Cd(II) and Zn(II)) on natural bentonite have been modeled with the aid of a factorial design approach. The ability of untreated bentonite to remove Cd(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous and acidic solutions at different pH values has been studied for different metal concentrations by varying the amount of adsorbent, temperature, stirring speed, and contact time. The same factors, except stirring speed and metal concentration, were applied in desorption study. Ultrasound power was used for desorption instead of stirring speed. A flame atomic absorption spectrometer was used to measure the cadmium and zinc concentration before and after both experimental study. The highest adsorption for Zn and Cd was 99.85 and 96.84%, respectively, and the highest desorption for Zn and Cd obtained was 66.57 and 51.37%, respectively. It is believed that the models obtained for adsorption and desorption may provide a background for detailed mechanism searches and pilot and industrial scale applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.