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Adsorption of Lead and Cadmium from Aqueous Solution by Using Almond Shells

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Abstract

The potential of almond shells was assessed for adsorption of heavy metal ions such as Pb2+ and Cd2+ from aqueous solution. Almond shells were pretreated separately with 0.4 mol/L NaOH, 0.4 mol/L HNO3, and distilled water and their adsorption abilities were compared. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of the initial ion concentration, pH, and adsorbent dosage. Adsorption isotherms of metal ions on adsorbents were determined and correlated with common isotherm equations such as Langmuir, Freundlich, and BET models. The alkali-modified almond shells had adsorption capacities for Pb2+ from 2 to 9 mg/g and for Cd2+ from 2 to 7 mg/g, which was much higher than acid- and water-pretreated adsorbents. Experimental results showed that the best pH for adsorption was 5–6 and the adsorption values decreased with lowering pH. Isotherm models indicated the best fit for Langmuir model for alkali-modified almond shells. In comparing the parameters of the models, it was observed that the affinity of almond shells for adsorption of lead is stronger than affinity for adsorption of cadmium.

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Abbreviations

q :

amount of metal ion adsorbed per specific amount of adsorbent (milligrams per gram)

C :

residual metal ion concentration (milligrams per liter)

C 0 :

initial metal ion concentration (milligrams per liter)

q m :

amount of metal ions required to form a monolayer (milligrams per gram)

n :

Freundlich equilibrium constant indicative of bond energies between metal ion and adsorbent

K L :

Langmuir equilibrium constant related to the energy of adsorption (liters per milligram)

K B :

BET constant

K F :

Freundlich equilibrium constant related to bond strength (milligrams per gram)

C s :

solute concentration at the saturation of all layers (milligrams per liter)

m :

adsorbent mass

R 2 :

correlation coefficients

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank the Research Deputy of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 4515713656, Zanjan, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Mehrasbi, Zohreh Farahmandkia, Bahareh Taghibeigloo & Azra Taromi

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  1. Mohammad Reza Mehrasbi
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  2. Zohreh Farahmandkia
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  3. Bahareh Taghibeigloo
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  4. Azra Taromi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Mehrasbi.

Glossary

Adsorption

accumulation of a substance at the interface between two phases, such as a liquid and a solid.

Adsorbent

a solid or liquid that adsorbs other substances.

Adsorbate

a solid, gas or liquid which is adsorbed by adsorbent.

Modification or pretreatment of adsorbent

a physical or chemical change in adsorbent in order to improve efficiency and operational effectiveness.

Almond

the seed of almond tree that is classified into two categories: sweet (Punus amigdalu var. dulcis) and bitter (Punus amigdalu var. amaras).

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Mehrasbi, M.R., Farahmandkia, Z., Taghibeigloo, B. et al. Adsorption of Lead and Cadmium from Aqueous Solution by Using Almond Shells. Water Air Soil Pollut 199, 343–351 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9883-9

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