Application of Hydroxyapatite (HAp) to Remove Copper (II) from Water

The contamination of water sources by heavy metals such as copper (Cu²⁺) poses a serious threat to human health and environment diversity. In this study, hydroxyapatite (HAp), a calcium phosphate-based material, was investigated for its adsorption capacity in the removal of Cu²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. So, in this study HAp was synthesized via chemical precipitation and characterized using SEM techniques, that acts as an absorbent. This study covers, the effects of initial copper concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and solution pH when exposed to HAp. The results demonstrated that HAp exhibited high affinity for Cu²⁺ ions, with maximum removal efficiency observed at pH 5.5 and contact time of 350 minutes. Based on the results of the adsorption experiments, a treatment unit was designed and developed for the removal of copper from water. Prototype units were constructed to test copper ion concentrations of 4 mg/L and 6 mg/L. These prototypes demonstrated effective performance, successfully treating over 1000 liters of copper-contaminated water