Sorption of Cd from Aqueous Solutions by Natural and Polyacrylamide-Modified Montmorillonite

This research was conducted to study the effect of natural and polyacrylamide-modified montmorillonite on the sorption of Cd from aqueous solutions. The sorption of Cd on the sorbents was studied as a function of pH (Cd concentration: 10 mg L-1) in the range of 4-8. 5، and as a function of metal concentration (Cd concentration in the range of 1-10 mgL-1) using a 24h batch equilibration. Experimental and modeling data from equilibrium investigations revealed that the Koble–Corrigan sorption model describes the interaction between Cd and the two sorbents better than the Freundlich and Langmuir models. The values of KF constant of Freundlich and KL constant of Langmuir models were higher for sorption of Cd onto the modified montmorillonite than for those of natural montmorillonite. Maximum sorption capacity calculated from the Langmuir model was 0. 6 and 0. 7 mg g-1 for natural and modified montmorillonite، respectively. These values are indications of high sorption affinity of Cd to montmorillonite in the presence of polyacrylamide. The amount of Cd sorbed by modified montmorillonite decreased by increasing solution pH while Cd sorption by natural montmorillonite increased by increasing the solution pH.