Enhancing cadmium removal by low-cost nanocomposite adsorbents from aqueous solutions; a continuous system.

Removal of cadmium ions from an aquatic solution was investigated by low-cost adsorbents and compared when modifying them by Fe-S nanoparticles. Nanocomposites were synthesized by a new experimental method under simple and inexpensive procedure by Fe-S nanoparticles, which possessed good characteristics of the surface area and magnetic property. These nanocomposite adsorbents removed cadmium at larger percentages than pure adsorbents. Iron filings had only a minor effect on the removal of cadmium, but when they were modified with Fe-S nanoparticles, the adsorption rate reached over 98.5%. Under operating conditions of pH 7, a concentration of 3 ppm, and a flow rate of 5 ml/min, the highest cadmium adsorption in water was caused by the iron nanocomposite. Display Omitted [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]