Reporting the application of Lycopersicon esculentum peel and Brassica botrytis leaves as adsorbents for Cd removal from aqueous solution

Cadmium(II) adsorption was investigated on different adsorbents, namely Lycopersicon esculentum peel (LEP), Lycopersicon esculentum peel activated carbon (LEP-AC), Brassica botrytis leaves (BBL) and Brassica botrytis leaves activated carbon (BBL-AC). Batch experiments were performed to study the effects of pH, temperature, initial metal ion concentration, contact time and adsorbent dosage. The study concluded that the incorporation of activated carbon to the parental adsorbents leads to accelerate the rate of adsorption. The process was exothermic and due to the exothermic nature, the percent adsorption was decreased by increasing temperature. The experimental data were evaluated by Lagergren and Ho’s kinetic models by taking into account the adsorption of Cd by different adsorbents.