Biosorptive removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions by Pleurotus ferulae: Equilibrium,kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Equilibrium,kinetics and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated to establish the potential usefulness of the pleurotus ferulae biomass for biosorption of cadmium from aqueous solutions. maximum biosorption was observed at initial ph of 4.5,temperature of 30 °c and at the initial cadmium concentration of 100 mg/l. pseudo- second order rate expression well fitted the experimental data for cadmium when compared to pseudo-first order kinetic model. equilibrium analysis using langmuir and freundlich models showed that the biosorption process is langmuir model. the process was exothermic and δg° was negative showing spontaneity of the process within the studied temperature range. the possible functional groups on the dried pleurotus ferulae biomass,responsible for the sorption of cd (ii),are: - oh,- nh,- coo and - c- o.