Synthesis and Characterization of Zeolite/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite, using in the Removal of 〖Cr〗^(6+) from Aqueous Solution

Chromium is one of the most dangerous inorganic water pollutants with two oxidation states (Cr (VI) and Cr (IV)). Cr (VI) is more toxic and known to have cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. In this study, the removal behavior of a composite of zeolite with respect to Cr (VI) has been studied. The structural characteristics of Hydroxyapatite–Zeolite were investigated by SEM, FT-IR and XRD techniques. The impact of various operating parameters, including pH (5–11), concentrations of modified zeolite (0.5–5.0 g), initial concentration of Cr (VI) and contact time (10–360 min), was investigated on the removal of Cr (VI) from water through different experimental runs in the batch system. These results show that natural zeolites hold great potential to remove cationic heavy metal species from industrial wastewater.