Cadmium(II) sorption and desorption in a fixed bed column using sunflower waste carbon calcium–alginate beads

Abstract

The present study reports the use of sunflower waste carbon calcium–alginate beads (SWC-CAB) for cadmium removal from wastewater in continuous flow fixed bed columns. The experiments were conducted as a function of bed height, flow rate and initial Cd(II) concentration. The maximum biosorption capacity (23.6mg/g) was attained at 30cm bed height, 1.0mL/min flow rate and 10mg/L initial Cd(II) concentration. The Bohart – Adams model constants (N0 and K) were 7.7mg/L and 1×10−4L/mgh with 0.999 R2 value at 50% breakthrough time. The column regeneration efficiency after third cycle was 58.6% for cadmium.