Adsorption of cadmium (II) from aqueous solutions by activated carbon produced from Algerian dates stones of Phoenix dactylifera by H3PO4 activation

Low-cost-activated carbon derived from dates stones of Phoenix dactylifera L. has been used to replace the current high-cost methods of cadmium removal from aqueous solutions and waste waters. Effect of some operating parameters such as pH, contact time, initial metal concentration, and solution temperature was examined. Adsorption of cadmium ions was found to increase with increasing pH to reach a maximum removal rate of 4.29 mg/g at pH=8 (C-0=50 mg/l). Adsorption data are found to follow the Freundlich model.