Treatment of Cd2+ and Cu2+ Ions Using Modified Apatite Ore

Apatite ore from Lao Cai (Vietnam) has large reserves and low prices. Its main component is fluorapatite. The purification and modification of apatite ore can produce a material that can be used as an absorbent for heavy metals with high efficiency. The molecular structure, phase component, specific surface area, element component, and morphology of modified apatite ore from Lao Cai province, Vietnam, were characterized by IR, XRD, BET, EDX, and SEM methods. The IR and XRD results show that the modified process transformed apatite ore from fluorapatite to nanohydroxyapatite. The specific surface area of modified apatite ore (100.79 m2/g) is much higher than the original ore (3.97 m2/g). The modified apatite ore was used to adsorb Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions in water. The effect of adsorbent mass, pH, contact time, and initial concentration of Cd2+ and Cu2+ on the adsorption efficiency and capacity was investigated. Besides, the isotherm adsorption model was determined using Freundlich and Langmuir theories.