Adsorption and removal of strontium in aqueous solution by synthetic hydroxyapatite.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a main mineral constituent of bone and tooth and has an outstanding biocompatibility. HAP is a possible sorbent for heavy metals in wastewater due to its high adsorption capacity and low water solubility. We developed a removal system of (90)Sr from aqueous solution by HAP column procedure. More than 90 % of (90)Sr was adsorbed and removed from the (90)Sr containing solution. Divalent cations, Ca(2+), had little effect on the removal of (90)Sr up to a concentration of 1 mmol L(-1). This clearly indicates that the HAP column technique is advantageous with respect to the capacity to adsorb (90)Sr from water present in the environment.