ADSORPTION ISOTHERM STUDIES OF Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) IONS REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING UNMODIFIED AND ESTER MODIFIED (ESTERIFIED) SENILIA SENILUS AND THAIS CORONATA BIOMASS

Removal of heavy metal from aqueous solutions using developed alternative treatment methodologies was investigated. Senilia senilus (anadara) and Thais coronata (grastropoda) biomass were found to be a better adsorbent for the removal of Hg2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ .This method of heavy metals removal proved highly effective as removal efficiency increased as the initial concentration increased. The removal was high for Hg2+ ranging from 98.00 – 99.97 %. Also, the ester modification did not enhance the adsorption capacity. Among three adsorption isotherm tested, Freundlich adsorption isotherm gave the best fit with r2 value ranging from 0.9887 to 1.0000 and average value of 0.9998. The biomass and method used were efficient and cost effective, and have successfully used for the removal of Hg2+and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solution.