The adsorptio
n of Pb(II) a
nd Cd(II) metal io
ns o
n mustard husk has bee
n fou
nd to be co
nce
ntratio
n, pH, co
ntact time, adsorbe
nt dose a
nd temperature depe
nde
nt. The adsorptio
n parameters were determi
ned usi
ng La
ngmuir a
nd Freu
ndlich isotherm models. The adsorptio
n isotherm studies clearly i
ndicated that the adsorptive behavior of Pb(II) a
nd Cd(II) metal io
ns o
n mustard husk satisfies
not o
nly the La
ngmuir assumptio
ns but also the Freu
ndlich assumptio
ns, i.e. multilayer formatio
n o
n the surface of the adsorbe
nt with a
n expo
ne
ntial distributio
n of site e
nergy. Io
n excha
nge a
nd surface complexatio
n are the major adsorptio
n mecha
nisms i
nvolved.
The applicability of Lagergren kinetic model has also been investigated. Thermodynamic constant (kad), free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) were calculated for predicting the nature of adsorption. The results indicate the potential application of this method for effluent treatment in industries and also provide strong evidence to support the adsorption mechanism proposed.