Adsorption of Cadmium from Aqueous Solution by Ficus religiosa Leaf Powder and Characterization of Loaded Biosorbent

The present investigation evaluates the adsorption effectiveness of Cd(II) ions on Ficus religiosa leaf powder (FRL). The experimental parameters chosen included time, pH, particle size, temperature, adsorbate, anion, and Pb(II) concentrations. The time data followed pseudo‐second‐order kinetics. Cd(II) adsorption increased from 1.38 to 75.17% with the increase in pH from 2 to 4 and further increase in pH to 5.5 resulted in its marginal increase to 77.52%. Based on regression coefficient values, the isothermic data fitted the various models in the order Langmuir > Redlich–Peterson > Temkin > Freundlich model. The maximum loading capacity of FRL was estimated to be 27.14 mg g−1. The presence of Cl−, ${\rm SO}_{{\rm 4}}^{2{-} } $, or Pb2+ exhibited adverse effect on Cd(II) uptake. The thermodynamic parameters of enthalpy (ΔH0) and entropy (ΔS0) were estimated to be 8.31 kJ mol−1 and 38.22 J mol−1 K−1, respectively. SEM‐EPMA of the loaded FRL showed Cd(II) distribution at specific sites. The XRD patterns of Cd(II) loaded FRL sample showed disappearance of some peaks corresponding to β‐Ca(PO3)2; shifting of peaks and decrease in %RI corresponding to γ‐CaSO4 phase. Positive shift of IR bands for the Cd(II) loaded sample was observed. FTIR spectra of Ficus religiosa leaf powder before and after cadmium absorption show shifts of various bands to higher wave numbers (3 to 43cm−1).