The present study reports the use of sunflower waste carbon calcium-alginate beads (SWC-CAB) for cadmium removal from wastewater in continuous flow fixed bed columns. The experiments were conducted as a function of bed height, flow rate and initial Cd(II) concentration. The maximum biosorption capacity (23.6 mg/g) was attained at 30 cm bed height, 1.0 mL/min flow rate and 10 mg/L initial Cd(II) concentration. The Bohart - Adams model constants (N-0 and K) were 7.7 mg/L and 1 x10(-4) L/mg h with 0.999 R-2 value at 50% breakthrough time. The column regeneration efficiency after third cycle was 58.6% for cadmium. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.