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Heavy metals removal from aqueous solution using resorcinol-formaldehyde matrix incorporated with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

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Abstract

Adsorbents such as carbon-based materials, metal oxides, and metal-organic framework composites have been studied in recent years to remove toxic heavy metal ions from wastewater and water. Each of these adsorbents has a series of disadvantages, including that some cannot desorbed and reactivated, some have a complex production process and also powder materials cannot be well separated from the water after adsorption. Thus, the goal of this research is to create a new adsorbent based on a polymer nanocomposite made of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogel and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles. To accomplish this, RF aerogels were prepared using the Pekala method with varying resorcinol to catalyst (R/C) ratios, and then HA filler in various concentrations was loaded into the aerogel. According to the results, the maximum surface area was obtained at R/C = 100, and the greatest adsorption occurred at pH = 7. With increasing contact time, the amount of metal ions adsorbed increased and could reach equilibrium in 48 h. The isotherm data were also examined using the Langmuir and Freundlich models. This study found that RF aerogels with HA nanoparticles can be used as a highly effective adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

  • Resorcinol-formaldehyde and HA were combined to develop a novel aerogel.

  • Nanocomposite aerogel was mechanically strength due to the HA nanofillers.

  • BET surface area was optimized according to resorcinol to catalyst ratio.

  • Adsorption of metal ions increased with increasing contact time.

  • Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to analyze the isotherm results.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Shiraz University under grant 98GCB2M256440.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Mehdi Sadat-Shojai, Aliakbar Keshavarzi & Milad Asadnia

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  1. Mehdi Sadat-Shojai
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  2. Aliakbar Keshavarzi
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  3. Milad Asadnia
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MS-S provided the idea for this research paper and participated in conducting the experiments and writing the article. AK conducted the experiments and MA participated in writing and preparing the manuscript.

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Sadat-Shojai, M., Keshavarzi, A. & Asadnia, M. Heavy metals removal from aqueous solution using resorcinol-formaldehyde matrix incorporated with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 108, 466–476 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06213-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06213-8

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