Cadmium (II) Ions Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Romanian Untreated fir Tree Sawdust – a Green Biosorbent

Abstract

Biosorption of cadmium ions from synthetic aqueous solution using popular Romanian fir tree sawdust (Abies Alba) as biosorbent, was investigated in this work. Prior to its utilization the considered biomass was washed, dried and sieved without further chemical treatments. The biosorbent was characterized using humidity, density and elemental analysis determinations and FTIR. FTIR analysis indicated that, on the biomass surface hydroxyl and carboxyl groups are presented. The effect of different biosorption parameters was studied. Higher biomass quantity, neutral pH, slightly elevated temperature and high cadmium ions concentration are all favouring the biosorption process. Equilibrium (Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm), kinetics and thermodynamics of the considered biosorption process were discussed in details. Equilibrium was best described by the Langmuir isotherm, while the kinetic of the process was best described by the pseudo-second-order model, suggesting monolayer coverage and a chemisorption process.Thermodynamic parameters showed that cadmium biosorption process on fir tree sawdust is an endothermic process.