Copper and cadmium sorption onto kraft and organosolv lignins

The relative metal sorption ability of kraft and organosolv lignins was examined as a function of solution chemistry (pH, ionic strength (I), sorbate-to-sorbent ratio) and reaction time. The surface charge characteristics and functional group composition of these lignins, especially kraft lignin, are favorable for metal sorption. Sorption of Cu and Cd increased with increasing pH and decreasing I. Description of sorption isotherms required the more complex Sips equation, as compared to the simpler Langmuir and Freundlich formulations, indicative of the presence of binding sites with varying affinities on these lignin biosorbents. Sorption capacity varied in the following order: softwood organosolv lignin