Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous Solution

The use of low-cost biowaste adsorbents for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions offers significant environmental benefits. This research evaluated the adsorption and recovery of Cd<sup>2+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> ions in batch and column modes with luffa p...

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Main Authors: Liang Feng, Enju Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Separations
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/12/1/16
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author Liang Feng
Enju Wang
author_facet Liang Feng
Enju Wang
author_sort Liang Feng
collection DOAJ
description The use of low-cost biowaste adsorbents for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions offers significant environmental benefits. This research evaluated the adsorption and recovery of Cd<sup>2+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> ions in batch and column modes with luffa peels and chamomile flowers. The biosorbents were treated with 0.4 M nitric acid or with 0.4 M NaOH base. An FTIR analysis of the sorbents indicated that surface OH, C=O, CO and COO groups played a role in the adsorption process. L-type isotherms were obtained for Pb<sup>2+</sup>, fitting both the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with maximum adsorption capacities of 34.0 mg/g for luffa peels and 49.5 mg/g for chamomile flowers. Adsorption isotherms for Cd<sup>2+</sup> ion fit better with the Freundlich model with smaller adsorption capacity than Pb<sup>2+</sup>. Base-treated sorbents have higher adsorption capacity. The adsorption kinetic for both ions are fast and followed a pseudo-second order chemosorption model. Fixed-bed column dynamic adsorption with luffa peels obtained a Thomas dynamic adsorption capacity of 32.9 mg/g for Pb<sup>2+</sup> and 25.8 mg/g for Cd<sup>2+</sup>. The recovery efficiency was 87 to 90% over three adsorption–regeneration cycles.
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spelling doaj-art-dbb3779c4d524fb5b44db72fb8fe8be92025-01-24T13:49:32ZengMDPI AGSeparations2297-87392025-01-011211610.3390/separations12010016Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous SolutionLiang Feng0Enju Wang1Department of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Jamaica, NY 11439, USADepartment of Chemistry, St. John’s University, Jamaica, NY 11439, USAThe use of low-cost biowaste adsorbents for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions offers significant environmental benefits. This research evaluated the adsorption and recovery of Cd<sup>2+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> ions in batch and column modes with luffa peels and chamomile flowers. The biosorbents were treated with 0.4 M nitric acid or with 0.4 M NaOH base. An FTIR analysis of the sorbents indicated that surface OH, C=O, CO and COO groups played a role in the adsorption process. L-type isotherms were obtained for Pb<sup>2+</sup>, fitting both the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with maximum adsorption capacities of 34.0 mg/g for luffa peels and 49.5 mg/g for chamomile flowers. Adsorption isotherms for Cd<sup>2+</sup> ion fit better with the Freundlich model with smaller adsorption capacity than Pb<sup>2+</sup>. Base-treated sorbents have higher adsorption capacity. The adsorption kinetic for both ions are fast and followed a pseudo-second order chemosorption model. Fixed-bed column dynamic adsorption with luffa peels obtained a Thomas dynamic adsorption capacity of 32.9 mg/g for Pb<sup>2+</sup> and 25.8 mg/g for Cd<sup>2+</sup>. The recovery efficiency was 87 to 90% over three adsorption–regeneration cycles.https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/12/1/16low cost biosorbenttoxic metalequilibriumkineticsdynamicchemosorption
spellingShingle Liang Feng
Enju Wang
Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous Solution
Separations
low cost biosorbent
toxic metal
equilibrium
kinetics
dynamic
chemosorption
title Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous Solution
title_full Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous Solution
title_fullStr Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous Solution
title_full_unstemmed Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous Solution
title_short Adsorption and Recovery Studies of Cadmium and Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents from Aqueous Solution
title_sort adsorption and recovery studies of cadmium and lead ions using biowaste adsorbents from aqueous solution
topic low cost biosorbent
toxic metal
equilibrium
kinetics
dynamic
chemosorption
url https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/12/1/16
work_keys_str_mv AT liangfeng adsorptionandrecoverystudiesofcadmiumandleadionsusingbiowasteadsorbentsfromaqueoussolution
AT enjuwang adsorptionandrecoverystudiesofcadmiumandleadionsusingbiowasteadsorbentsfromaqueoussolution