Factorial design analysis for sorption of zinc on hydroxyapatite

A factorial design was employed to evaluate the quantitative removal of zinc from aqueous solutions on synthesized hydroxyapatite. The experimental factors and their respective levels studied were the initial zinc concentration in solution (35≤C(Zn)≤85 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (4.5≤C(susp)≤9.5 g/L), Ca/P molar ratio (1.667≤Ca/P≤2) and calcination temperature of hydroxyapatite (600≤T(Cal)≤800 °C). The adsorption parameters were analysed statistically by means of variance analysis by using the STATISTICA software. The experimental results and statistical analysis show that increasing in the calcination temperature from 600 to 800 °C decrease the zinc adsorption whereas the increase of adsorbent dosage increases it. Based on the analysis of variance and the factorial design of experiments, adsorbent dosage has a positive effect on the removal of zinc, whereas zinc concentration, Ca/P molar ratio and calcination temperature have a negative effect on this process. The factorial results also demonstrate the existence of statistically significant binary interactions of the experimental factors. The experimental results were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich equations to find out adsorption capacities. In most cases, the results indicate that the sorption data fits well in the Freundlich isotherm model. The results of XRD analysis, pH(PZC) and pH(Final) values indicated that ion exchange and dissolution/precipitation mechanisms predominate for the sorption of zinc on our hydroxyapatite.