Effect of Complexation on the Adsorption of Cadmium by Activated Carbon

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Abstract
The adsorption of Cd2+ in the absence and presence of two chelating agents was examined as a function of pH. Fits of the data to the Freundlich and Langmuir equations were compared as were results with Zn and Pb using four different activated carbons. In general, adsorption increased with increasing pH and was not extensive, particularly for Cd. At low cadmium to carbon ratios, EDTA appeared to enhance adsorption. With more realistic loadings, when competition for surface sites is greatest, the presence of EDTA is shown to be detrimental to the process. 1,10-Phenanthroline, the second chelating agent studied, was more effective for promoting the removal of Cd. The uncomplexed Cd and Cd-EDTA systems were best described by the simple Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption of 1,10-phenanthroline and its Cd complex were modeled using a modified form of the Langmuir equation.