Environmental Context. The toxicity of cadmium in waters can be decreased by using a wide variety of low-cost biomaterials. A number of such investigations are reviewed here and the models used to describe the process of biosorption discussed. Fundamental investigations that probe the thermodynamics and kinetics of the biosorption process are essential for a strong understanding of all biosorption processes. Areas that still need addressing are highlighted, in particular with regard to cadmium biosorption, some models for which are ready to be tested in pilot plants.

Abstract. Cadmium is internationally recognized as an important pollutant in the environment, and different methods for its removal from wastewaters (chemical precipitation being the most commonly used) have been reported in the literature. Those methods are in most cases oriented to situations with high concentrations of the pollutant. Thus, alternative removal and recovery methods are being considered for removing very low concentrations of cadmium. These methods are all based on biosorption, the passive adsorption and sequestration of metals by several natural materials of biological origin. In this review we have considered the biosorption of cadmium onto biomaterials from a physicochemical, thermodynamic, and kinetic perspective. The thermodynamic perspective is based on the characterization of the interactions of the binding sites of the biosorbents with cadmium species in aqueous solution. Traditionally, this approach has been quantified using different kinds of isotherms. In addition, the description is completed by taking into account electrostatic effects, and the influence of pH and ionic strength, which are associated with the negative charge developed, in most cases, by the biomaterial. The other point of view in this review is the kinetic one, which is necessary for a full physicochemical description of the sorbate–biosorbent system. Consequently, an updated description of the various approaches commonly employed in kinetic studies in biosorption has been carried out.