Kinetics and equilibrium studies for the removal of heavy metals in both single and binary systems using hydroxyapatite

Abstract

Removal of heavy metals is very important with respect to environmental considerations. This study investigated the sorption of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in single and binary aqueous systems onto laboratory prepared hydroxyapatite (HA) surfaces. Batch experiments were carried out using synthetic HA at 30 °C. Parameters that influence the adsorption such as contact time, adsorbent dosage and pH of solution were investigated. The maximum adsorption was found at contact time of 12 and 9 h, HA dosage of 0. 4 and 0. 7 g/l and pH of 6 and 8 for Cu and Zn, respectively, in single system. Adsorption kinetics data were analyzed using the pseudofirst-, pseudosecond-order and intraparticle diffusion models. The results indicated that the adsorption kinetic data were best described by pseudosecond-order model. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to analyze adsorption data, and Langmuir isotherm was found to be applicable to this adsorption system, in terms of relatively high regression values. The removal capacity of HA was found to be 125 mg of Cu/g, 30. 3 mg of Zn/g in single system and 50 mg of Cu/g, 15. 16 mg of Zn/g in binary system. The results indicated that the HA used in this work proved to be effective material for removing Cu and Zn from aqueous solutions. © 2012 The Author(s).