Intraparticle diffusivity of Cd ions in a new biosorbent material

Cadmium equilibrium sorption isotherms were determined for formaldehyde crosslinked Sargassum fluitans, establishing that an effective regeneration of the new biosorbent material is possible by an acid wash. Batch desorption kinetics were investigated at pH values of 1·0 and 2·0. By incorporating the linear and non-linear Langmuir equilibrium isotherm relationships into the rate equations, a mathematical model was proposed for modeling the metal desorption process. The model was solved numerically and a MATLAB computer program was used to curve-fit the experimental data. The model successfully predicted the Cd²⁺ elution concentration profile in a batch reactor. The average values of the intraparticle diffusivity of Cd²⁺ in the algal biosorbent calculated from the model were 3·40 × 10⁻⁶ and 1·65 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹, 0·473 and 0·229 times the molecular diffusivity of Cd²⁺ in water, at pH values of 1·0 and 2·0, respectively. These values agreed well with theoretical predictions.