Assessment of cadmium and iron adsorption in sediment, employing a flow injection analysis system with on line filtration and detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Graphical abstract: -- Highlights: •A FIA system with on-line filtration for isotherms adsorption studies was proposed. •Isotherms for iron and cadmium elements in bottom lake sediment were done. •Inferences about adsorption/desorption mechanisms were feasible. •The proposed method turns the isotherm studies fast and reliable. -- Abstract: This work presents an evaluation of iron and cadmium adsorption in sediment of the Furnas Hydroelectric Plant Reservatory located in Alfenas, Minas Gerais (Brazil). The metal determination was done employing a flow injection analysis (FIA) with an on-line filtering system. As detection techniques, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for iron and thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS) for cadmium determinations were used. The developed methodology presented good limits of detection, being 190 μg L−1 for iron and 1.36 μg L−1 for cadmium, and high sampling frequency for both metals 144 and 60 readings h−1 for iron and cadmium, respectively. Both metals obey the Langmuir model, with maximum adsorptive capacity of 0⋅169 mg g−1 for iron and 7⋅991 mg g−1 for cadmium. For iron, a pseudo-first-order kinetic model was obtained with a theoretical Qe = 9⋅8355 mg g−1 (experimental Qe = 9⋅5432 mg g−1), while for cadmium, a pseudo-second-order kinetic model was obtained, with a theoretical Qe = 0.3123 mg g−1 (experimental Qe = 0⋅3052 mg g−1)