Physicochemical characterization of hydroxyapatite and its application towards removal of nitrate from water

Meso-Macroporous Hydroxyapatite Powders Synthesized in Polyvinyl Alcohol or Polyvinylpyrrolidone Media

Mesoporous hydroxyapatite (HA) is widely used in various applications, such as the biomedical field, as a catalytic, as a sensor, and many others. The aim of this work was to obtain HA powders by means of chemical precipitation in a medium containing a polymer-polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-with concentrations ranging from 0 to 10%. The HA powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma, electron paramagnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The specific surface area (SSA), pore volume, and pore size distributions were determined by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption measurements, and the zeta potential was established. The formation of macropores in powder agglomerates was determined using SEM and TEM. The synthesis in 10% PVP increased the SSA from 101.3 to 158.0 m2/g, while the ripening for 7 days led to an increase from 112.3 to 195.8 m2/g, with the total pore volume rising from 0.37 to 0.71 cm3/g. These materials could be classified as meso-macroporous HA. Such materials can serve as the basis for various applications requiring improved textural properties and may lay the foundation for the creation of bulk 3D materials using a technique that allows for the preservation of their unique pore structure.

Development of iron-based biochar for enhancing nitrate adsorption: Effects of specific surface area, electrostatic force, and functional groups

The problem of nitrate contamination in water has attracted widespread attention. Original biochar has a poor adsorption capacity for nitrate adsorption. Iron impregnation and acid protonation (base deprotonation) are common modification methods for biochar. In order to develop iron-mediated biochar containing multi-functional groups for enhancing nitrate adsorption, Fe-BC@H and Fe-BC@OH were prepared using a two-stage development process, including an iron-based carbon pyrolysis followed by acid protonation (or base deprotonation). The pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir models can well describe the adsorption process which is a physicochemical complex monolayer adsorption. The data proved that Fe-BC@H (9.35 mg/g NO₃^--N) had a stronger adsorption capacity than Fe-BC@OH (2.95 mg/g NO₃^--N). Surface morphologies, functional groups, and mineral compositions of Fe-BC@H and Fe-BC@OH were analyzed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Characterization results showed that acid protonation can further improve the specific surface area (SSA), pore volume, and Zeta potential of Fe-based biochar, providing more adsorption sites for nitrate and enhancing the electrostatic force between nitrate and biochar. However, these effects were suppressed through base deprotonation. In addition, acid protonation can significantly increase the type and number of functional groups of biochar to enhance the chemisorption of nitrate. Such results suggested that the acid protonation can further improve the adsorption capacity of Fe-based biochar for nitrate, while base deprotonation had an inhibitory effect on that of Fe-based biochar. Overall, this study reveals that specific surface area, electrostatic force, and functional groups are crucial effects of the nitrate adsorption on acid/base modified biochar.

Green Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles Using Monoon longifolium Leaf Extract for Removal of Fluoride from Aqueous Solution

Hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) calcium phosphate is a robust and viable magnetic material for the treatment of polluted air, water, and soil. Because of its unique structure and appealing properties such as high adsorption capabilities, acid-base adaptability, ion-exchange capability, and thermal stability, hydroxyapatite (HAp) has a lot of potential in the field of environmental management. An aqueous extract of Monoon longifolium leaves was used for the preparation of hydroxyapatite nonparticles as the adsorbent for fluoride ion removal from aqueous solution in this work, resulting in bio-based hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by using instrumental techniques such as TGA/DTA, XRD, AAS, FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy as well as SEM. The batch adsorption approach was used to determine the optimum adsorption efficiency of HAp NPs under various experimental conditions. As a result, the best removal efficiency corresponds to 0.75 g HAp NPs, 15 mg/L, and pH 7 at 50 minutes (96%). The equilibrium adsorption data were better fitted into the Freundlich isotherms (R2 = 0.99), and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be suitable (R2 = 0.99) for the kinetic model. Fluoride ion adsorption on HAp NPs is spontaneous, endothermic, and possible at temperatures over 318 K, according to thermodynamic calculations. The results hint at a conclusion that the synthesized HAp NPs were an efficient adsorbent for the removal of fluoride ions and the overall process can be an economical choice for scaled-up water treatment processes.

Role of emerging chitosan and zeolite-modified adsorbents in the removal of nitrate and phosphate from an aqueous medium: A comprehensive perspective

Due to industrialization and population growth, freshwater supplies are diminishing and becoming impure with high organic pollutant concentrations such as nitrate and phosphate, which shows a high adverse impact on aquatic and human lives. In drinking water sources, particularly groundwater, nitrate is considered as one of the major pollutants which causes methemoglobinemia (in newborn infants), carcinogenic activities and diabetes. Excess concentration of phosphate leads to eutrophication and death of aquatic species due to reduced dissolved oxygen content. Therefore, all countries must implement highly effective technologies for treating wastewater. Chitosan and zeolite are naturally occurring and cost-effective adsorbent materials with a higher surface area that exhibit greater nitrate and phosphate adsorption. Surface modification of chitosan and zeolite increases the adsorption capacity of adsorbents for the removal of both anions selectively. This paper reviews the current development of modified chitosan and zeolite adsorbents for anion adsorption, with an emphasis on modification by zero and multivalent metals and metal oxides, different surfactants, biomass-derived carbon, and natural and synthetic polymers. Multiple adsorption parameters, optimum adsorption condition, adsorption mechanism, regeneration study, research gap and future aspects have been explained for further research work.

Effects of Phosphate, Red Mud, and Biochar on As, Cd, and Cu Immobilization and Enzymatic Activity in a Co-Contaminated Soil

Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu) are the primary inorganic pollutants commonly found in contaminated soils. The simultaneous stabilization of the three elements is a preferred approach for mixture-contaminated soils which has received extensive research attention. However, few studies have focused on the immobilization efficiency of a single amendment on the three elements. In this study, phosphate, red mud, and biochar were used to remediate As (237.8 mg kg−1), Cd (28.72 mg kg−1), and Cu (366.5 mg kg−1) co-contaminated soil using a 180-day incubation study. The BCR (European Community Bureau of Reference) extraction method, NH4H2PO4–extractable As, and diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Cd and Cu were analyzed at different time intervals. The results indicated that the application of red mud and biochar significantly reduced soil DTPA–Cd and Cu concentrations during the incubation, while the decrease in soil NH4H2PO4–As was much less than that of soil DTPA–Cd and Cu. After 180 days of incubation, the concentrations of NH4H2PO4–As in red mud and biochar treatments decreased by 2.15~7.89% and 3.01~9.63%, respectively. Unlike red mud and biochar, phosphate significantly reduced the concentration of soil DTPA–Cd and Cu, but failed to lower that of As. The BCR extraction method confirmed that red mud and biochar addition increased the reducible fraction of As due to the surface complexes of As with Fe oxide. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) demonstrated that soil pH in addition to available As, Cd, and Cu concentrations were the primary factors in driving the changes in soil enzymatic activity. Soil pH showed positive correlation with soil urease and catalase activities, while negative correlation was observed between soil-available As, Cd, and Cu, and soil enzyme activities. This study revealed that it is difficult to simultaneously and significantly reduce the bioavailabilities of soil As, Cd, and Cu using one amendment. Further research on modifying these amendments or applying combined amendments will be conducted, in order to develop an efficient method for simultaneously immobilizing As, Cd, and Cu.

Treatment of nitrate containing wastewater by adsorption process using polypyrrole-modified plastic-carbon: Characteristic and mechanism

Polypyrrole-modified plastic-carbon (PET-PPy) composite was prepared by using high porosity plastic-carbon materials and a special doping mechanism of polypyrrole to remove nitrate from water to achieve waste recycling. As a result, PET-PPy-500 showed remarkable nitrate adsorption in both acidic and alkaline wastewater. The pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models were fit for the nitrate adsorption by PET-PPy-500, and the maximum adsorption capacity predicted by the Langmuir model was 10.04 mg NO₃-N/g (45.18 mg NO₃^-/g) at 30 °C. The ion exchange and electrostatic attraction were the main mechanisms of removing NO₃^- by PET-PPy-500, which was demonstrated by the interface characterization and theoretical calculation. The doped ions (Cl^-) and/or other anions produced by charge transfer interaction were the main exchange ions in the process of NO₃^- adsorption. The main binding sites in the electrostatic adsorption process were nitrogen-containing functional groups, which can be confirmed by the results of XPS and density functional theory (DFT). Furthermore, DFT results also showed that the adsorption of nitrate by PET-PPy was a spontaneous exothermic process, and the adsorption energy at the nitrogen site was the lowest. The findings of this study provide a feasible strategy for the advanced treatment of nitrate containing wastewater.

On the Comprehensive Precipitation of Hydroxyapatites Unraveled by a Combined Kinetic-Thermodynamic Approach

The present study combines experimental and theoretical approaches to investigate the competitive precipitation of calcium phosphates (CaPs) in aqueous solution in order to understand and control both the structural and textural properties of the synthesized hydroxyapatites (HAps). Some of the precipitation reactions were followed by in situ Raman spectroscopy or achieved under kinetically controlled conditions. The CaP precursors of HAps were identified as a function of the precipitation pH of the medium and the order of introduction of the precursor ions in the synthesis reactor. Their formation was rationalized by calculations based on a homogeneous nucleation model. Depending on the synthesis conditions, precipitation reaction pathways of HAps are proposed by bringing together the kinetic model developed in the present study and our previous thermodynamic model. HAps are complex materials due to the ease with which large amounts of crystallographic defects, such as carbonates and hydrogen phosphates, can be incorporated in their structure. As these defects play a key role in material sciences (bone substitute, heterogeneous acid-base catalysis, etc.), the present work also includes the analysis of the formation of these crystallographic defects in the apatitic framework, allowing a better control of their incorporation through careful selection of operating parameters.

A review on the use of chitosan and chitosan derivatives as the bio-adsorbents for the water treatment: Removal of nitrogen-containing pollutants

Chitosan and its derivatives have been widely used as the adsorbents for different types of water pollutants. This review paper lists various physically and chemically modified chitosan-based adsorbents such as chitosan beads, cross-linked chitosan, chitosan-polymer composites, chitosan-inorganic material composites, and chitosan-metal complexes for the removal of nitrogen-containing pollutants (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and ammonium ions) from aqueous solutions. It covers preparation strategies, the effect of modification on adsorbent structure, and the impact of adsorption variables using batch and fixed-bed column studies. In addition to demonstrating the applications of chitosan and its derivatives in the removal of nitrogenous pollutants from water, it helps researchers understand the influence of modification of chitosan on its adsorption capacity as well as physical and chemical properties.

Study of Electron-Nuclear Interactions in Doped Calcium Phosphates by Various Pulsed EPR Spectroscopy Techniques

Substituted calcium phosphates (CaPs) are vital materials for the treatment of bone diseases and repairing and replacement of defects in human hard tissues. In this paper, we present some applications of the rarely used pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and hyperfine interaction spectroscopy approaches [namely, electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) and electron-electron double-resonance detected nuclear magnetic resonance (EDNMR)] to investigate synthetic CaPs (hydroxyapatite, tricalcium, and octacalcium phosphate) doped with various cations (Li+, Na+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, and Ba2+). These resonance techniques provide reliable tools to obtain unique information about the presence and localization of impurity centers and values of hyperfine and quadrupole tensors. We show that revealed in CaPs by EPR techniques, radiation-induced stable nitrogen-containing species and carbonate radicals can serve as sensitive paramagnetic probes to follow CaPs' structural changes caused by cation doping. The most pulsed EPR, ESEEM, and EDNMR spectra can be detected at room temperature, reducing the costs of the measurements and facilitating the usage of pulsed EPR techniques for CaP characterization.

Radiation-Induced Stable Radicals in Calcium Phosphates: Results of Multifrequency EPR, EDNMR, ESEEM, and ENDOR Studies

This article presents the results of a study of radiation-induced defects in various synthetic calcium phosphate (CP) powder materials (hydroxyapatite—HA and octacalcium phosphate—OCP) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at the X, Q, and W-bands (9, 34, 95 GHz for the microwave frequencies, respectively). Currently, CP materials are widely used in orthopedics and dentistry owing to their high biocompatibility and physico-chemical similarity with human hard tissue. It is shown that in addition to the classical EPR techniques, other experimental approaches such as ELDOR-detected NMR (EDNMR), electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM), and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) can be used to analyze the electron–nuclear interactions of CP powders. We demonstrated that the value and angular dependence of the quadrupole interaction for 14N nuclei of a nitrate radical can be determined by the EDNMR method at room temperature. The ESEEM technique has allowed for a rapid analysis of the nuclear environment and estimation of the structural positions of radiation-induced centers in various crystal matrices. ENDOR spectra can provide information about the distribution of the nitrate radicals in the OCP structure.

The Effects of NaOH Concentration on the Hydrothermal Synthesis of a Hydroxyapatite–Zeolite Composite Using Blast Furnace Slag

This study investigated the effect of NaOH concentration on the assemblage, crystallinity, and dimension of crystalline phases in hydroxyapatite–zeolite composites made with blast furnace slag. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption tests were conducted to characterize the synthesized composites. In addition, the cesium adsorption potential of the synthesized composites was evaluated to assess the feasibility of using hydroxyapatite–zeolite composites synthesized from blast furnace slag. The composite samples using a 3 M NaOH solution showed the formations of Na-P1 and Faujasite (FAU) zeolites along with hydroxyapatite, which led to the highest adsorption capacity for cesium (44.90 mg/g).

Effects of Passivating Agents on the Availability of Cd and Pb and Microbial Community Function in a Contaminated Acidic Soil

A 3-year pot experiment was carried out to investigate the efficiencies of hydroxyapatite (H), thiol-functionalized bentonite (T) and biochar (B) alone or in combination in remedying a Cd-Pb-contaminated soil. The application of passivating agents reduced the Cd and Pb mobility in acidic soil and enhanced soil microbial community function. The largest reductions in the Cd and Pb acid-soluble portions were observed under H (33.49%, 37.37%) and hydroxyapatite + thiol-functionalized bentonite + biochar (HTB, 36.70%, 37.31%), respectively. Biological analysis indicated that the AWCD (average well color development) of the B and HTB amendments was 1.42 and 1.51 times higher, respectively, than of untreated soil at 192 h. Moreover, the Shannon-Wiener, Simpson and Pielou indices were significantly increased in these two treatments relative to the values in the other amendment treatments. Therefore, combination amendments, such as HTB, which can reduce the bioavailability of both Cd and Pb and increase soil microbial activity, are recommended for practical applications.

Fabrication of Porous Hydroxyapatite Granules as an Effective Adsorbent for the Removal of Aqueous Pb(II) Ions

Porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) granules have been successfully fabricated from a HAp powder precursor and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) additive by a simple sintering process. The composition and microstructures of the HAp were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometer. The effects of sintering temperature and PVA/HAp mass ratios on color, water stability, morphology, and chemical composition of HAp are discussed. Optimum conditions for the fabrication of HAp granules were found to be a PVA/HAp mass ratio of 3/20 and a sintering temperature of 600°C for 4 h. Accordingly, the obtained HAp is white in color, is in the granular form with a size of about 2 × 10 mm, and has a specific surface area of 70.6 m2/g. The adsorption of Pb2+ onto the as-prepared HAp granules was carried out in aqueous solution by varying the pH, the adsorbent dose, the initial concentration of Pb2+, and the contact time. The results of adsorption stoichiometry of Pb2+ on the HAp granule adsorbent were fitted to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model (R2 = 0.99). The adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of the HAp granule adsorbent for Pb2+ under optimal conditions were found to be 7.99 mg/g and 95.92%, respectively. The adsorption process obeyed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with R2∼1. The porous HAp granules studied in this work showed potential for the removal of Pb2+ from industrial wastewater.

Biochar composites with nano zerovalent iron and eggshell powder for nitrate removal from aqueous solution with coexisting chloride ions

Biochar (BC) was produced from date palm tree leaves and its composites were prepared with nano zerovalent iron (nZVI-BC) and hen eggshell powder (EP-BC). The produced BC and its composites were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, and FTIR for surface structural, mineralogical, and chemical groups and tested for their efficiency for nitrate removal from aqueous solutions in the presence and absence of chloride ions. The incidence of graphene and nano zerovalent iron (Fe0) in the nZVI-BC composite was confirmed by XRD. The nZVI-BC composite possessed highest surface area (220.92 m2 g-1), carbon (80.55%), nitrogen (3.78%), and hydrogen (11.09%) contents compared to other materials. Nitrate sorption data was fitted well to the Langmuir (R 2 = 0.93-0.98) and Freundlich (R 2 = 0.90-0.99) isotherms. The sorption kinetics was adequately explained by the pseudo-second-order, power function, and Elovich models. The nZVI-BC composite showed highest Langmuir predicted sorption capacity (148.10 mg g-1) followed by EP-BC composite (72.77 mg g-1). In addition to the high surface area, the higher nitrate removal capacity of nZVI-BC composite could be attributed to the combination of two processes, i.e., chemisorption (outer-sphere complexation) and reduction of nitrate to ammonia or nitrogen by Fe0. The appearance of Fe-O stretching and N-H bonds in post-sorption FTIR spectra of nZVI-BC composite suggested the occurrence of redox reaction and formation of Fe compound with N, such as ferric nitrate (Fe(NO3)3·9H2O). Coexistence of chloride ions negatively influenced the nitrate sorption. The decrease in nitrate sorption with increasing chloride ion concentration was observed, which could be due to the competition of free active sites on the sorbents between nitrate and chloride ions. The nZVI-BC composite exhibited higher nitrate removal efficiency compared to other materials even in the presence of highest concentration (100 mg L-1) of coexisting chloride ion.

Acoustic cavitation induced synthesis of zirconium impregnated activated carbon for effective fluoride scavenging from water by adsorption

Environmental concern associated with the side effects of high fluoride content in ground water and surface water has prompted the researchers to look for an efficient, convenient and easy method. Considering the potential of a good adsorbent, present study reports the synthesis of a composite by impregnating zirconium on powdered activated carbon (AC) using ultrasound as the tool for synthesis and applying it for fluoride adsorption from water. The nature of the composite was determined through characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive Xray (EDX), Xray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption analysis (BET) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The pH_pzc (point of zero charge) of the adsorbent was found to be 5.03; with the optimum pH obtained at 4 for adsorption of strong electronegative fluoride ions. The initial fluoride concentration was varied from 2.5 up to 20 mg.L^-1 and the maximum adsorption capacity of 5 mg.g^-1 was obtained. A maximum fluoride removal of 94.4% was obtained for an initial concentration of 2.5 mg.L^-1 within an equilibrium time of 180 min. The adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm model indicating a monolayer adsorption process and the adsorption kinetics followed pseudo second order model. The effects of various coexisting ions (HCO₃^-, NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, Cl^-) commonly present in the water were found to have negligible impact on the process performance. Conducting the adsorption-desorption studies for five consecutive cycles for an initial fluoride concentration of 10 mg.L^-1, the removal efficiency reduced from 86.2 to 32.6%. The ultrasonic method provided an easy route to synthesize the composite in less time and significantly reduced energy consumption by more than 96% compared to the conventional method.

Characteristics of Nitrate Removal from Aqueous Solution by Modified Steel Slag

Steel slag, which makes up a gigantic amount of metallurgical industrial solid waste, was in this experiment successfully synthesized an inexpensive adsorbent used to remove nitrate pollution from aqueous solution. This adsorbent was obtained by mixing steel slag, aluminium hydroxide and deionized water, and aging this at a mass ratio of 3:0.45:2, and then activating it at 800 °C. The physicochemical characteristics of the steel slag before and after modification were investigated to compare the effect of their surface properties on the adsorption behaviour of nitrate. The effects of adsorbent dosage, pH, and contact time on the adsorption process were investigated. The results showed that an increase in specific surface area and the formation of a positive surface of the modified steel slag (MSS) compared with the original steel slag (OSS) could effectively increase the number of the active adsorption sites and nitrate removal ability. The optimum parameters for nitrate removal were as follows: the concentration of nitrate was 20 mg/L, the dosage was 1 g/100 mL, the pH was four, and the reaction time was 180 min. The adsorption capacity of the MSS was approximately 1.9 times that of the OSS. The nitrate adsorption of the MSS was in accordance with the pseudo-second-order model and the Freundlich model, which indicated that the adsorption of nitrate on the MSS was mainly single layer chemical adsorption. The mechanism of nitrate removal mainly included ion exchange, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions and intermolecular interactions. In addition, regeneration experiments indicated that the MSS after regeneration still had the capacity to remove nitrate.

The characteristics of steel slag and the effect of its application as a soil additive on the removal of nitrate from aqueous solution

This study examined the characteristics of nitrate removal from aqueous solution by steel slag and the feasibility of using steel slag as a soil additive to remove nitrate. Steel slag adsorbents were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectrum (IR spectrum). Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were also analysed. Various parameters were measured in a series of batch experiments, including the sorbent dose, grain size of steel slag, reaction time, initial concentration of nitrate nitrogen, relationship between Al, Fe and Si ions leached from the steel slag and residual nitrate in the aqueous solution. The nitrate adsorbing capacity increased with increasing amounts of steel slag. In addition, decreasing the grain diameter of steel slag also enhanced the adsorption efficiency. Nitrate removal from the aqueous solution was primarily related to Al, Fe, Si and Mn leached from the steel slag. The experimental data conformed to second-order kinetics and the Freundlich isothermal adsorption equation, indicating that the adsorption of nitrate by steel slag is chemisorption under the action of monolayer adsorption. Finally, it was determined that using steel slag as a soil additive to remove nitrate is a feasible strategy.

Kinetic and isotherm studies of nitrate adsorption on granular Fe–Zr–chitosan complex and electrochemical reduction of nitrate from the spent regenerant solution

In this study, a granular Fe–Zr–chitosan complex was prepared to remove nitrate from aqueous solution and an undivided cylindrical electrochemical cell was constructed to treat the spent regenerant solution, thus achieving separation and conversion.

Kinetic and equilibrium modeling for removal of nitrate from aqueous solutions and drinking water by a potential adsorbent, hydrous bismuth oxide

The kinetic, equilibrium modeling and adsorption characteristics of hydrous bismuth oxides (HBOs) have been investigated for the removal of nitrate from aqueous solutions.

A novel ultrasonication method in the preparation of zirconium impregnated cellulose for effective fluoride adsorption

In the present work, we propose for the first time a novel ultrasound assisted methodology involving the impregnation of zirconium in a cellulose matrix. Fluoride from aqueous solution interacts with the cellulose hydroxyl groups and the cationic zirconium hydroxide. Ultrasonication ensures a green and quick alternative to the conventional time intensive method of preparation. The effectiveness of this process was confirmed by comprehensive characterization of zirconium impregnated cellulose (ZrIC) adsorbent using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The study of various adsorption isotherm models, kinetics and thermodynamics of the interaction validated the method.

Combination of EPR measurements and DFT calculations to study nitrate impurities in the carbonated nanohydroxyapatite

We demonstrate the application of the combined experimental-computational approach for studying the anionic impurities in hydroxyapatite (HAp). Influence of the carbonation level (x) on the concentration of the NO3(2-) radicals in the HAp nanocrystals of Ca10-xNax(PO4)6-x(CO3)x(OH)2 with x in the range 0 < x < 2 and average sizes of 30 nm is investigated by different analytical methods including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Stable NO3(2-) radicals are formed under X-ray irradiation of nano-HAp samples from NO3(-) ions incorporated in trace amounts during the wet synthesis process. Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations show energetic preference for the PO4 group substitution by NO3(-) ions. Comparison of the calculated and experimental spectroscopic parameters (g and hyperfine tensors) reveals that EPR detects the NO3(2-) radicals located in the positions of the PO4 group only. It is shown that with the increase in x, the carbonate ions substitute the NO3(2-)/NO3(-) ions. DFT calculations confirm that carbonate incorporation in HAp structure is energetically more favorable than the formation of the nitrate defect.

Application of a new adsorbent for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions

Hydrous bismuth oxides (HBOs) have been investigated as a possible adsorbent for fluoride removal from water. Apart from bismuth trioxide (Bi2O3) compound, three additional HBOs, named as HBO1, HBO2, and HBO3 were synthesized in the laboratory and examined for their relative potentials for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. HBO1 was observed to have highest fluoride removal at 10mg/L initial concentration in aqueous environment. Among competitive anions, sulfate and chloride affect the fluoride removal by HBO1 more adversely than bicarbonate. Characterization of HBOs using X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern analyses indicated crystalline structures, and the broad chemical composition of materials showed successive increase of Bi(OH)3 from HBO1 to HBO3, with decrease of BiOCl in the same order. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses indicated presence of Bi-O bond and successively increasing number of peaks corresponding to OH ion from HBO1 to HBO3. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) images of HBOs show rough and porous structure of the materials. Presence of higher proportion of chloride compound in HBO1 with respect to others appears to be the factor responsible for its better performance in fluoride removal from aqueous solutions.

Effects of hydroxyapatite addition on heavy metal volatility during tannery sludge incineration

The effectiveness of hydroxyapatite (HAP) on volatilization reducing of heavy metals during incineration of tannery sludge was investigated. The tannery sludge was treated through doped with different content of HAP, and then incinerated in the tube furnace at the temperature of 600 °C and 900 °C. The results showed that the volatilization rates decreased by 10.19% for Pb, 10.17% for Zn, 7.40% for Cu and 5.33% for Cr at 600 °C when the HAP content was raised to 20%. At 900 °C, the volatilization rates of Pb, Cr and Cu decreased by about 40.0%, 24.0% and 9.0%, respectively, while volatilization of Zn can be considered nearly unchanged at around 5%. The heavy metals can be stabilized effectively in the incineration after the pyromorphite-like minerals were formed in the sludge doped with HAP.

Highly biocompatible, nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite synthesized in a solvothermal process driven by high energy density microwave radiation

A microwave, solvothermal synthesis of highly biocompatible hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanopowder was developed. The process was conducted in a microwave radiation field having a high energy density of 5 W/mL and over a time less than 2 minutes. The sample measurements included: powder X-ray diffraction, density, specific surface area, and chemical composition. The morphology and structure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal behavior analysis was conducted using a simultaneous thermal analysis technique coupled with quadruple mass spectrometry. Additionally, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy tests of heated samples were performed. A degradation test and a biocompatibility study in vitro using human osteoblast cells were also conducted. The developed method enables the synthesis of pure, fully crystalline hexagonal HAp nanopowder with a specific surface area close to 240 m(2)/g and a Ca/P molar ratio equal to 1.57. TEM measurements showed that this method results in particles with an average grain size below 6 nm. A 28-day degradation test conducted according to the ISO standard indicated a 22% loss of initial weight and a calcium ion concentration at 200 μmol/dm(3) in the tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride test solution. The cytocompatibility of the obtained material was confirmed in a culture of human bone derived cells, both in an indirect test using the material extract, and in direct contact. A quantitative analysis was based on the 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide. Viability assay as well as on DNA content measurements in the PicoGreen test. Indirect observations were performed at one point in time according to the ISO standard for in vitro cytotoxicity (ie, after 24 hours of cell exposure to the extracts). The direct contact tests were completed at three time points: after 24 hours, on day 7, and on day 14 of a culture in an osteogenic medium. All of the tests revealed good tolerance of cells toward the material; this was also shown by means of live/dead fluorescent staining. Both quantitative results and morphological observations revealed much better cell tolerance toward the obtained HAp compared to commercially available HAp NanoXIM, which was used as a reference material.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of phosphate treatment for the remediation of mine waste soils contaminated with Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn

The effectiveness of phosphate treatment for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn immobilization in mine waste soils was examined using batch conditions. Application of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) and natural phosphate rock (FAP) effectively reduced the heavy metal water solubility generally by about 84-99%. The results showed that HA was slightly superior to FAP for immobilizing heavy metals. The possible mechanisms for heavy metal immobilization in the soil involve both surface complexation of the metal ions on the phosphate grains and partial dissolution of the phosphate amendments and precipitation of heavy metal-containing phosphates. HA and FAP could significantly reduce Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn availability in terms of water solubility in contaminated soils while minimizing soil acidification and potential risk of eutrophication associated with the application of highly soluble phosphate sources.