Cadmium removal from single- and multi-metal (Cd plus Pb plus Zn plus Cu) solutions by sorption on hydroxyapatite

Heavy metal contamination of waters and soils is particularly dangerous to the living organisms. Different studies have demonstrated that hydroxyapatite has a high removal capacity for divalent heavy metal ions in contaminated waters and soils. The removal of Cd from aqueous solutions by hydroxyapatite was investigated in batch conditions at 25 +/- 2 degrees C. Cadmium was applied both as single- or multi-metal (Cd + Pb + Zn + Cu) systems with initial concentrations from 0 to 8 mmot L-1. The adsorption capacity of hydroxyapatite in single-metal system ranged from 0.058 to 1.681 mmol of Cd/g of hydroxyapatite. In the multi-metal system competitive metal sorption reduced the removal capacity by 63-83% compared to the single-metal system. The sorption of Cd by hydroxyapatite follows the Langmuir model. Cadmium immobilization occurs through a two-step mechanism: rapid surface complexation followed by partial dissolution of hydroxyapatite and ion exchange with Ca resulting in the formation of a cadmium-containing hydroxyapatite. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.