biosorption; carrot; lead; cadmium

This study deals with utilization of milled stems and leaves of carrot (Daucus carota) for the adsorptive removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from the aqueous solution. Carrot was bought in the local grocery, it was dried at the laboratory temperature and milled. Prepared material was analysed by the infrared spectrometry which confirms good structural homogeneity of the sample. Kinetic measurements were performed for estimation of adsorption equilibrium time. Equilibrium of Pb(II) adsorption was established after 6 hours of contact time, equilibrium of Cd(II) adsorption was established after 24 hours of contact time. The isotherms' measurements were realized with the contact time 24 hours for the estimation of adsorption capacities of the studied sorbent. Adsorption capacities were around 47 mg/g for Cd(II) and 154 mg/g for Pb(II). Changes of pH values of the sorption solutions were negligible but some amount of Ca(II), Mg(II), K(I) and Na(I) ions was released to the solution during adsorption process. Daucus carota stems and leaves exhibit good sorption capacities and they could be utilized for adsorptive removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from the aqueous solutions.