Morales-Aredo, JhossepGamboa-Meregildo, KediVejarano, Ricardo2020-08-172022-02-222020-08-172022-02-222020-07978-958-52071-4-12414-6390http://laccei.org/LACCEI2020-VirtualEdition/meta/FP126.htmlhttp://dx.doi.org/10.18687/LACCEI2020.1.1.126https://axces.info/handle/10.18687/20200101_126The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of prickly pear cactus cladode (Opuntia ficus) to remove copper (Cu2+), iron (Fe3+) and chromium (Cr3+) from aqueous solutions. Distilled water mixed with Cu2+, Fe3+ or Cr3+ at initial concentrations of 19.60, 16.60 and 17.85 ppm, respectively, were used as media for testing. The aqueous media were treated with two adsorbents: i) a naturally collected cladode (CT), and ii) a cladode chemically modified with calcium (CTCa). The results indicate that a greater metal adsorption is obtained with the CTCa adsorbent. Moreover, 2 hours of contact is enough to remove up to 82.75, 78.36 and 87.84% of Cu2+, Fe3+ and Cr3+, respectively, with respect to their initial concentrations. Our results suggest that the prickly pear cactus cladode might be potentially effective as an eco-friendly adsorbent for removing heavy metals from contaminated watersEnglishLACCEI Licensehttps://laccei.org/blog/copyright-laccei-papers/heavy metalscontaminated wateradsorptionprickly pear cactus cladodeArticle