Novel magnetic adsorbents based on oyster and clam shells for the removal of cadmium in soil

Magnetic adsorbents can effectively remove heavy metals from soil. However, the magnetization process may reduce availability of adsorption sites, making it challenging to balance magnetic and adsorption properties. In this study, oyster shell (OS) and clam shell (CS) material was magnetized by an improved chemical co-precipitation method. The organic matter in the shells was destroyed by calcination modification to expose new active sites, and calcinated ferro-magnetic adsorbent was produced with either ferrosodium EDTA (giving CEOS and CECS) or with iron citrate (for CCOS and CCCS). All four modified adsorbents reached adsorption equilibrium for Cd²⁺ in solution within 120 min, with maximum adsorption capacities ranging from 115.5 to 266.5 mg/g, giving high removal efficiencies for Cd²⁺. Adsorption by precipitation and cation exchange mechanisms was dominant, together contributing >60 % of all adsorption capacity, followed by complexation. When used for remediation of Cd-contaminated soil, CEOS demonstrated the best Cd removal efficiency, achieving removal rates of 46 % and 58 % for total and available Cd, respectively. This was mainly because CEOS had the highest magnetic recovery rate, of 98 %. CEOS maintained removal rates of 34 % for total Cd after regeneration and reuse three cycles, with recovery rates remaining above 90 %. Contaminated soil was treated with the novel adsorbents and in pot experiments with water spinach cultivation it was shown that both CEOS and CECS treatment significantly reduced Cd content (by up to 56 %). The magnetic adsorbents presented here demonstrate excellent performance to remove Cd from water and soil, and have promising application prospects.