Low concentration cadmium removal using weathered sand of basalt

The natural weathered sand of basalt (WSB) has been used for the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution. The influence of various parameters i.e., contact time, pH, weathered sand of basalt dosage, particle size of the weathered sand of basalt, temperature and initial cadmium concentration were analyzed. Cadmium adsorption kinetics was well described by the pseudo second order model. Adsorption equilibrium for cadmium was properly well fitted to Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity 0.50 mg/g. Compared with the other experimental results using various kinds of adsorbents at a low concentration (1.0 mg/L or so) similar to that of this study, the cadmium removal efficiency using weathered sand of basalt was higher. It has been demonstrated that weathered sand of basalt has a available alternative adsorbent for cadmium when its initial concentration is low.