Feasibility of using natural fishbone apatite as a substitute for hydroxyapatite in remediating aqueous heavy metals.
Fishbone, a natural, apatite rich substance, was examined for suitability as a substitute for hydroxyapatite in the sequestering of aqueous divalent heavy metal ions. The fishbone exhibited lower metal removal capacity than pure hydroxyapatite, due primarily to its purity ( approximately 70% apatite equivalent). In other ways the fishbone behaves in a similar manner as pure hydroxyapatite in the sequestration process. It was observed that it can remove all Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+) and Ni(2+) to below detectable levels as measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption, and the rate of reaction with either Zn(2+), Ni(2+), or Pb(2+) was also found to be similar to hydroxyapatite. Also, a two level, three variable full factorial design was performed for the Pb/apatite reaction and both apatites performed similarly. The main difference, besides capacity, was on exposure to high (2.4 mM) Pb concentrations. The fishbone removed less of the Pb(2+) than capacity correction predicted.
Admassu
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Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1021, USA. wadmassu@uidaho.edu
Breese
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T
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001842:Bone and Bones; D017886:Durapatite / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005399:Fishes; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D017886:Durapatite