Cadmium(II) removal from aqueous solutions by pre-treated biomass of marine alga Padina sp.

In this study, the adsorption properties of a pre-treated biomass from marine alga Padina sp.. a biomass collected from Surin Island, Thailand, for removal of cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated. Batch and column experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption properties of the modified biomass. At a pH of 5. the maximum removal capacity of the biomass is 0.53 mmol/g. The kinetics of cadmium(TI) adsorption were fast with 90% of adsorption taking place within 35 min. This study demonstrated that the pre-treated biomass of Padina sp. could be used as an efficient biosorbent for the treatment of cadmium(II)-bearing wastewater streams. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.