Removal of cadmium(II) from aqueous solution by hydroxyapatite-encapsulated zinc ferrite (HAP/ZnFe2O4) nanocomposite: kinetics and isotherm study.

In this study, HAP/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite has been synthesized in two simple steps. The different characterization techniques confirm the fabrication of HAP/ZnFe2O4 magnetic binary nanocomposite. The composite was successfully applied as nanoadsorbent for the elimination of Cd(II) ions from its aqueous solution. The composite was able to remove 89.6% of Cd(II) ions under optimum experimental conditions. The equilibrium sorption data were very much in agreement with the Freundlich adsorption model, and the maximum sorption capacity was recorded to be 120.33 mg/g. Kinetic data of the cadmium ion removal was well concurrent with the pseudo-second-order kinetics rate model. This magnetic HAP/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite can be applied as an environmentally friendly, low-cost, productive sorbent for the evacuation of Cd(II) ions from wastewater in light of its high sorption capacity.