Enhanced lead adsorption by eco-hydroxyapatite derived from marble sludge: Optimization and kinetic study

Abstract

In this study, eco-hydroxyapatite (e-HAP) was synthesized from marble sludge via a hydrothermal process for utilization as an adsorbent in the removal of Pb²⁺ ions from wastewater. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and thermal field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) revealed that increasing the Ca/P molar ratio (CPMR) and hydrothermal temperature (HT) increased crystallinity and that the influence of HT was more apparent. An increase in crystallinity, crystal length, and peak intensity was observed following an increase in the CPMR. Adsorption studies show that when the HT was 393 K, the CPMR was 0.67, the initial Pb²⁺ ion concentration was 100 mg/L, the equilibrium time was 20 min, and the adsorbent dosage was 0.6 g/L. The resulting removal efficiency (99.99 %) and maximum adsorption capacity (166.65 mg/g) are both very high. Adsorption kinetics are well described using a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. This paper presents a facile and economically sustainable approach to the synthesis of e-HAP from marble sludge for use in removing of Pb²⁺ from wastewater.