Removal of Cd (II) ion from waste water by adsorption onto polyaniline coated on sawdust

► Polyaniline coated on saw dust (PANI/SD) can be used successfully for the removal of cadmium from wastewater. ► Adsorption occurred within 20 min for cadmium concentration range of 10: 40 mg L − 1. ► The sorption capacity is dependent on the initial concentration and pH till pH 6. ► The kinetic process of Cd2+ adsorption was found to fit the pseudo-second-order rate equation. ► The equilibrium data were better fitted to Freundlich adsorption isotherm model.