Abstract
Poor separation of powdered biochar from the liquid phase during toxic heavy metals adsorption poses serious environmental and human health challenges. The current study therefore investigated the removal of toxic heavy metal i.e., cadmium using a magnetically modified biochar derived fromEleocharis dulcisto combine its easy separation from liquid phase with enhanced adsorption capacity obtained fromEleocharis dulcisbiochar. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized by using various characterization techniques and its performance for cadmium adsorption was studied at varying parameters of time, temperature, pH and concentration. Both equilibrium and kinetic studies were performed at 30, 35, 40 and 45 degrees C. The equilibrium data was subjected to Langmuir equation and the thermodynamic parameters like increment S degrees, increment H degrees and increment G degrees were calculated. The kinetic data fitted well to pseudo second order equation and the activation energy was calculated by using Arrhenius equation. The adsorption capacity of cadmium was found to be higher on the surface of magnetite biochar derived fromEleocharis dulcisas compared to many of the reported adsorbents proving it to be an effective adsorbent to remove cadmium from aqueous solutions.