CAPACITY OF CADIMIUM (Cd) REMOVAL IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT OF MODIFIED WHITE CLAM SHELLS

Environmental Science

This study investigates the adsorption capacity of thermally modified white clam shell powder for removing cadmium ions (Cd²⁺) from aqueous solutions. The material was calcined at various temperatures ranging from 400°C to 1000°C and tested through batch adsorption experiments. Results showed that shells treated at high temperatures (800–1000°C) exhibited superior performance, with removal efficiencies exceeding 98% and maximum adsorption capacity reaching 2.971 mg/g. SEM and FTIR analyses revealed that the modified material had a porous structure and contained active functional groups such as –OH, –CN, and –CH, which facilitated cadmium ion binding. The findings suggest that thermally treated clam shells are a promising low-cost, eco-friendly adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water, while also contributing to the reduction of seafood shell waste.

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