Removal Capacity of Lemna minor as Biosorbent for Removal of Cadmium from Simulated Wastewater in Combination with Ceramic Membrane

Efforts are being constantly made for removal of heavy metals from water and wastewater. Cadmium is known to cause acute and chronic toxic effects on human beings. Biosorption is an effective process of heavy metal removal from wastewater. Many adsorbents are used including activated carbon, carbon-based nanosorbents, etc. which are costly. In this study, biosorbent was prepared from Lemna minor (duckweed). Biosorbent was characterized in terms of XRD, FTIR, surface area, etc. With 1 g/L biosorbent dose and 30 mg/L cadmium solution, about 84% removal was achieved. Cadmium-simulated wastewater along with biosorbent was taken in 20 L feed tank and passed through single channel ceramic membrane of pore size 0.1 μm. The membrane further enhanced removal efficiency to 91% along with considerable reduction of organic and inorganic matter and separation of biosorbent.