Removal of cd(ii) from synthetic medium on to gulmohar fruit shell: Characterization, equilibrium and kinetic studies

Innovative process for treating waste water containing heavy metals often involve technologies for reduction of toxicity in order to meet the technology based standards. The present research is based on the sorption of Cd(II) from synthetic water using Gulmohar fruit shell (GFS). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were used for identification of morphology, functional groups of GFS. Equilibrium, kinetic studies were performed by considering the effects of pH, contact time, initial Cd(II) concentration and GFS loading. Results showed that the % removal of Cd(II) ions rised with the rise of pH, contact time and biomass loading and declined with rise of initial Cd(II) concentration. Langmuir isotherm was better described than Fruendlich isotherm. The maximum GFS coverage was 24.03mg/g. Kinetic studies were performed by different kinetic models. Pseudo-second order was excellent suited by kinetics. Thus, it can be concluded that GFS is an efficient biosorbent for the exclusion of Cd(II) from synthetic waste water.