Lead and cadmium removal by adsorption process using hydroxyapatite porous materials

Abstract This contribution is a comparison study between synthetic hydroxyapatite (Sy-HAP) and commercial hydroxyapatite (C-HAP) for the removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions present in wastewater from industrial effluents. The obtained results show that the equilibrium time required for complete adsorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions on C-HAP and Sy-HAP is 15 min for both. The obtained removal efficiencies for Sy-HAP are 95.52% and 90.91% for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions, respectively. Whereas, C-Hap presents lower removal efficiencies of 86.53% and 81.43% for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions, respectively. Maximum adsorption was observed at pH 5; at lower pH levels adsorption was less. The experimental kinetic data fitted with the second order kinetic model. Thermodynamically, the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Isotherm adsorption studies indicated that Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin are the most valid models to describe and evaluate the adsorption process. The EDX results also confirmed the presence of lead and cadmium in adsorbents after adsorption. Finally, the HAP porous materials possess great potential for the removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions and wastewater from industrial effluents.