Kinetic Studies of Zn(II) Removal from Single and Binary Solutions by Synthetic Hydroxyapatite - Based Nanopowders

A kinetic study has been carried out with two hydroxyapatite nanopowders to establish the mechanism involved in heavy metals removal from aqueous synthetic solutions. The samples of nanohydroxyapatite have been previously characterized. The first sample represents a pure hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanopowder named HAP-1, and the second sample (HAP-2) consist of a mixture of hydroxyapatite (HAP; Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) and b-tricalcium phosphate (b-TCP; Ca3(PO4)2). Batch experiments with single and binary Zn(II) and Pb(II) aqueous solutions have been performed. According to this research study, it was found that the both nanohydroxyapatite samples show good heavy metals adsorption capacity, and selectivity for Pb(II) ions. A more pronounced decreasing of sorption capacity of Zn(II) ions from binary solutions compared to that registered from single heavy metal ion solutions has been observed. From the kinetic point of view, the sorption process can be described for both heavy metals as a pseudo-second-order kinetic process. According to this model, the Zn(II) and Pb(II) sorption can be achieved by chemical reactions between heavy metals and functional groups of adsorbents. The obtained results are indicative of good hydroxyapatite adsorption ability towards Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions.