Removal of cadmium from aqueous solution was studied; using platanus orientalis leaves (POL) and
their ash in 2006 in Iran. Bach adsorption experiments were performed as a function of solute concentration,
contact time, pH and ironic strength for the experiment. The effect of Ca 2+, Mg2+, Na and K+ on adsorption was
then examined. The effect of this adsorbent on COD in aqueous solution showed that 1 g lG1 of adsorbent
caused increase of 110 and 76 mg lG1 COD in deionized water in 120 min for POL and its ash. The maximum
removal took place in the pH range of 7 contact time in 60 minutes and initial concentration of 2 mg lG1. The
cadmium sorption followed both the Longmuir and Freundlich’s equation isotherms. The study showed POL
ash was more favorable than living ones as well as in removing cadmium from the aqueous solution. The
adsorbent capacity was also studied. The adsorbent capacity and the adsorbent intensity values showed that
Platanus orientalis leaves, a non-conventional adsorbent is efficient in removing Cd from aqueous solution.
The adsorption data fitted well into Freundlich isotherm.