Adsorption of cadmium(II) from aqueous solution onto activated carbon

The adsorption isotherm of cadmium on activated carbon was measured in a batch adsorber. Effects of temperature and solution pH on the adsorption isotherm were investigated by determining the adsorption isotherm at temperatures of 10, 25, and 40 degrees C and at initial pH values from 2 to 8. Langmuir isotherm better fitted the experimental data since the average percent deviation was lower than with the Freundlich isotherm. It was noticed that the amount of Cd2+ adsorbed was reduced about 3 times by increasing the temperature from 10 to 40 degrees C. it was found that Cd2+ was not adsorbed on activated carbon at pH of 2 or lower and that Cd2+ was precipitated out as Cd(OH)(2) at pH values above 9. Maximum adsorption capacity was observed at pH of 8 and the adsorption capacity was decreased about 12 times by reducing the initial pH from 8 to 3. According to the cadmium speciation diagram the predominant species below pH of 8 is Cd2+. Thus, cadmium was adsorbed on the activated carbon surface as Cd2+. It was concluded that the adsorption capacity is a strong function of pH and temperature. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.