Synthesis and characterization of a crosslinked deacetylated chitin modified chicken bone waste-derived hydroxyapatite and TiO2 biocomposite for defluoridation of drinking water

This work represents an innovative approach to the synthesis and characterization of a chitosan-based biocomposite for fluoride adsorption. The work involved the development of a biocomposite based on modified chicken bone waste-derived hydroxyapatite and TiO2. The composite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared analysis (FTIR), thermal-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optimum parameters for fluoride removal were determined, and the kinetic data was better fitted to the pseudo- first-order model. The Liu equations provided a better description of the experimental adsorption isotherm data. The adsorption mechanism and the interaction of the composite with fluoride were better understood using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and Non-Covalent Interactions (NCI) analyses, paving the way for more effective and efficient defluoridation methods.