HaP / LP-SBA-15 Nanocomposite for efficient removal of fluoride from contaminated wáter

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HaP) composites and highly ordered large pore mesoporous silica, such as LP-SBA-15 (Large Pore-SBA-15), were developed, characterized by XRD, BET, FTIR and HRTEM, and applied properly to fluoride removal from contaminated water. The proposed procedure to prepare HaP/LP-SBA-15 was successful, which acts as supports to anchor the HaP crystals, in nanometer-scale (<12 nm), with higher fluoride retention from contaminated water. The free OH- groups of HaP nanocrystals, inside the host, permitted fluoride retention with high capacity. The fluoride holding activity was over 3 orders of magnitude higher than pure HaP.