Sorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions onto Shorea acuminata sawdust: Isotherm, kinetics and sorption mechanism studies

Abstract

The potential of Shorea acuminata (also known as Dark Red Meranti) sawdust as a sorbent to clean-up metal contaminated water was investigated in a batch sorption system. Its efficacy was evaluated at different pH, contact time and initial metal concentration. Equilibrium isotherm data were best described using the Langmuir isotherm model, while the kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. The maximum sorption capacity (Q) of Dark Red Meranti sawdust, estimated from the Langmuir equation were 94 and 328 mg/g for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. FTIR analysis confirmed that O- and N-containing functional groups are the main sorption sites in Dark Red Meranti sawdust.