Application of apatite particles for remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater: A review and perspectives

Zhiliang Li; Yi Qiu; Dongye Zhao; Jian Li; Guanlin Li; Hui Jia; Daolin Du; Zhi Dang; Guining Lu; Xiaofei Li; Chengfang Yang; Linjun Kong

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166918

Application of apatite particles for remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater: A review and perspectives

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 15:904:166918. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166918. Epub 2023 Sep 7.

Authors

Zhiliang Li¹, Yi Qiu², Dongye Zhao³, Jian Li⁴, Guanlin Li⁴, Hui Jia⁴, Daolin Du⁴, Zhi Dang⁵, Guining Lu⁵, Xiaofei Li⁶, Chengfang Yang⁷, Linjun Kong⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China; Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
² Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China.
³ Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-1324, USA. Electronic address: dzhao2@sdsu.edu.
⁴ School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China; Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China.
⁵ The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
⁶ School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, PR China.
⁷ College of Environmental Engineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou 221018, PR China.
⁸ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.

PMID: 37689195
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166918

Abstract

With rapid industrial development and population growth, the pollution of soil and groundwater has become a critical concern all over the world. Yet, remediation of contaminated soil and water remains a major challenge. In recent years, apatite has gained a surging interest in environmental remediation because of its high treatment efficiency, low cost, and environmental benignity. This review summarizes recent advances in: (1) natural apatite of phosphate ores and biological source; (2) synthesis of engineered apatite particles (including stabilized or surface-modified apatite nanoparticles); (3) treatment effectiveness of apatite towards various environmental pollutants in soil and groundwater, including heavy metals (e.g., Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Ni), inorganic anions (e.g., As oxyanions and F^-), radionuclides (e.g., thorium (Th), strontium (Sr), and uranium (U)), and organic pollutants (e.g., antibiotics, dyes, and pesticides); and (4) the removal and/or interaction mechanisms of apatite towards the different contaminants. Lastly, the knowledge or technology gaps are identified and future research needs are proposed.

Keywords: Apatite; Contaminant sequestration; Groundwater contamination; Reactive material; Remediation; Soil contamination.

Publication types

Review