Nanopore biopolymer alginate gel bead impregnated with surfactant-modified zeolite (SMZ) and powdered activated carbon (PAC) was evaluated for the treatment of polluted wastewaters using cadmium and nitrate as representative of cationic and anionic substrates. All material characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM, and BET. The optimal removal was obtained with the ratio of Alginate:SMZ: PAC of 3:4:1. This sorbent is more effective for cationic removal than anionic removal (cadmium removal of 99.8% versus nitrate removal of 56%). For both Cd and NO3, the adsorption increased with sorbent concentration. An isothermal adsorption study showed with increasing sorbent dose, the amount of adsorbed nitrate and cadmium per unit weight of sorbent increased to maxima adsorption capacity and then decreased. Based on modeling of the experimental results, the governing adsorption equation for nitrate and cadmium sorption is Temkin and Freundlich, respectively. Freundlich showed that this sorbent is very powerful in cadmium sorption because it is far from its maximum capacity in cadmium sorption. Since our results demonstrate the sorbent dose affects the governing isothermal behavior, a new adsorption equation was developed to a better model ratio of equilibrium concentration/ initial concentration to the ratio of equilibrium concentration/ sorbent dose.

Demonstration of a novel nanopore biopolymer adsorbent for removal of Cadmium and Nitrate pollutants from water

2019 Spring National Meeting

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