Sorption of Cd(II) onto kaolin as a soil component and desorption of Cd(II) from kaolin using rhamnolipid biosurfactant

In this study, a microbial surfactant, rhamnolipid, was investigated for its potential to enhance recovery of Cd(II) from kaolin, a representative soil component. The study was divided into two parts. In the first part, the sorption of Cd(II) ions to kaolin was investigated as a function of pH and initial Cd(II) ion concentration. Kaolin was also shown to be a good sorbent for treatment of Cd(II) ions from waste waters. The equilibrium sorption capacity for Cd(II) ions was measured and extrapolated using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Koble-Corrigan sorption models. The best correlation between experimental and model predicted equilibrium uptake was obtained using the Kolbe-Corrigan sorption model. The values of parameters of the Koble-Corrigan model were determined as A = 11.13 (mmol1−b kg−1 Lb); B = 0.39 (Lb mmol−b); b = 0.48. In the second part, the desorption of Cd(II) from kaolin was investigated as a function of pH, rhamnolipid concentration, and the amount of sorbed Cd(II) by kaolin. The highest Cd(II) desorption efficiency by rhamnolipid biosurfactant from kaolin was obtained at pH 6.8, at an initial Cd(II) ion concentration of 0.87 mM (4.42 mmol Cd(II)/kg kaolin) and at a rhamnolipid concentration of 80 mM and found to be 71.9% of the sorbed Cd(II).