Cadmium(II) Uptake from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption onto Carbon Aerogel Using a Response Surface Methodological Approach

Abstract

Recently a new form of activated carbon has appeared: carbon aerogel. Use of carbon aerogel for the adsorptive removal of inorganic compounds (and especially metal ions) has not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to investigate feasibility of cadmium(II) adsorption on carbon aerogel from aqueous solution. The physicochemical properties of carbon aerogel were analyzed to obtain a better understanding of the adsorption mechanism of Cd(II) onto carbon aerogel in aqueous solution. The surface structure of carbon aerogel was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Batch mode adsorption experiments were carried out to assess the adsorption behavior of Cd(II) in aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q0) was calculated by applying the Langmuir equation to Cd(II) in the adsorption isotherm and was found to be 15.53 mg g-1. The influence of three-process variables, namely, adsorbent concentration (0.02−0.1 g) per 50 mL of metal ...