Cadmium uptake by algal biomass in batch and continuous (CSTR and packed bed column) adsorbers

In this work, the properties of marine algae Gelidium, algal waste from agar extraction industry and a composite material were investigated for cadmium(II) biosorption. Equilibrium experiments were performed at three pH values (4, 5.3 and 6.5). Equilibrium data were well described by the Langmuir and Langmuir–Freundlich isotherms. Two models predicting the pH influence in the cadmium biosorption (discrete and continuous models) have been developed in order to better describe the equilibrium. The continuous model also considers a heterogeneous distribution of carboxylic groups, determined by potentiometric titration. The results of batch kinetic experiments performed at different pH values were well fitted by two mass transfer models and the homogeneous diffusion coefficients for the cadmium ions inside the biosorbent were obtained. Continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and packed bed column configurations were also examined for the biosorption of cadmium ions. A strong acid (0.1 M HNO3) was used as eluant to regenerate the biosorbents in the column. Several mass transfer models were applied with success to describe the biosorption process in batch mode, CSTR and fixed bed column.