Cadmium removal from wastewater by sponge iron sphere prepared by hydrogen reduction

A new type of sponge iron sphere (NSIS) with 1-5 mm diameter, made of concentrated iron powder and possessed high activity and intension, was prepared by mini-pellet sintering integrated with H2 direct reduction. Static state experiment has been carried on to investigate the Cd2+ removal efficiency from wastewater by the NSIS and to explore the Cd2+ removal reaction kinetics. It was suggested that initial pH value and Cd2+ original concentration had significant influence on Cd2+ removal percentage. Cd2+ removal percentage decreased significantly with the increasing of Cd2+original concentration whether the original pH value be adjusted to 3.0 or without adjustment. The results showed that the Cd2+ removal process followed the first order reaction because the reaction order was from 0.803 to 0.996. The apparent reaction rate constant between Cd2+ and NSIS was from 0.0025 to 0.1000 (mg·L−1)1-n·min−1. Compared with SIS reduced by charcoal reduction, NSIS deoxided by hydrogen possessed higher activity, and could remove the same quantity of Cd2+ within a shorter period of time.