The adsorption kinetics of cadmium by three different types of carbon nanotubes

► Three types of carbon nanotubes were used for cadmium adsorption at pH 6. ► Adsorption kinetics of each type of CNT was modeled by using two diffusion models. ► An intraparticle diffusion model best fitted the experimental kinetic data. ► The bamboo-type morphology of CNx favored the cadmium adsorption kinetics.