Batch Adsorption and Kinetic Study of Cd(II) Removal Using Hermetia illucens Shell-Based Biosorbent
Wahyu Setiawan (a), Siska Nuri Fadilah (a), Subriyer Nasir (b), Muhammad Said (b), Zainal Fanani (c), Fakhili Gulo (a*)

a) Department of Environmental Science, Postgraduate Program, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang 30139, South Sumatera, Indonesia
b) Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, 30139, South Sumatera, Indonesia
c) Department of Chemistry, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30662, South Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Hermetia illucens shell was utilized as an environmentally friendly biosorbent for the adsorption of Cd heavy metal ions from aqueous solution. Surface morphology characterization using SEM at 1000X magnification revealed a rough, heterogeneous, and porous structure, indicating the presence of potential active sites for adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted and the adsorption kinetics were evaluated using pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order (PSO), and Elovich models. The results showed an experimental adsorption capacity of 17.11 mg/g with a maximum removal efficiency of 20.07 percent. The PFO model yielded a Qe value of 13.94 mg/g and a K1 value of 0.47 min^-1 with an R^2 of 0.8683, while the Elovich model produced A and B constants of 18.45 and 0.30, respectively, with an R^2 of 0.88407. The PSO model exhibited the best fit with a Qe value of 17.11 mg/g, a K2 value of 0.02 g mg^-1 min^-1, and the highest R^2 value of 0.97481, suggesting that the adsorption process was predominantly governed by chemisorption mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that Hermetia illucens shell has strong potential as a low-cost, sustainable, and eco-friendly biosorbent for Cd-contaminated wastewater remediation.

Keywords: Heavy metal- black soldier fly- adsorption- Sustainable wastewater treatment

Topic: Material Physics