The removal of cadmium from dilute solutions using a continuous undivided electrochemical reactor with a rotating cylinder cathode of expanded metal is analysed. The effects of cathodic applied potential, size and orientation of expanded metal meshes and inlet cadmium concentration were ascertained. The results show that cadmium can be removed from dilute solutions (inlet concentration range 5-50 mg dm(-3)) with a high fractional conversion of between 35 and 40% depending on the operating conditions. Thus a minimal residual cadmium concentration of 3 mg dm(-3) was achieved. The specific energy consumption increases from 0.6 to 2 kWh mol(-1) as the cadmium concentration decreases. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry