Enhanced Cadmium Removal by Raw Argan Shell Adsorbent: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations for Ecological Applications

The removal of cadmium ions (Cd<sup>2+</sup>) using raw argan shells (ArS) was optimized through experimental and theoretical studies. Adsorption experiments revealed optimal conditions at an adsorbent dose of 3.5 g, an initial Cd<sup>2+</sup> concentration of 20 mg·L<sup&...

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Main Authors: Fatima-Zahra Abahdou, Maria Benbouzid, Khalid Bouiti, Hamid Nasrellah, Meryem Bensemlali, Najoua Labjar, Souad El Hajjaji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Physchem
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7167/5/1/13
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Summary:The removal of cadmium ions (Cd<sup>2+</sup>) using raw argan shells (ArS) was optimized through experimental and theoretical studies. Adsorption experiments revealed optimal conditions at an adsorbent dose of 3.5 g, an initial Cd<sup>2+</sup> concentration of 20 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>, and a pH of 8, achieving a maximum sorption capacity of 3.92 mg·g<sup>−1</sup>. The kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.98), and the Langmuir isotherm model predicted a maximum adsorption capacity of 4 mg·g<sup>−1</sup>. Thermodynamic analysis indicated an endothermic adsorption process, with ΔG° shifting from positive to negative as temperature increased, confirming that adsorption is favored at higher temperatures. Desorption studies demonstrated that HCl was the most effective eluting agent, achieving a desorption efficiency of 90.02%, followed by HNO<sub>3</sub> (76.65%) and CH<sub>3</sub>COOH (71.59%). The varying desorption efficiencies were attributed to differences in acid strength and ionic interactions with Cd<sup>2+</sup>. This study demonstrates the potential of raw argan shells as an efficient, reusable, and sustainable biosorbent for cadmium removal, offering a promising solution for water treatment and environmental remediation.
ISSN:2673-7167