High efficient multifunctional Ag3PO4 loaded hydroxyapatite nanowires for water treatment

Organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants are typical water contaminants and they seriously affect water quality. In this study, we suggested that a novel multifunctional Ag 3 PO 4 loaded hydroxyapatite (HAP) material can remove the typical pollutants from water. The Ag 3 PO 4 /HAP composites were synthesized facilely via in-situ precipitation of Ag 3 PO 4 on the pre-existing HAP nanowires. By optimizing the composition of Ag 3 PO 4 and HAP, the material could achieve an optimal photocatalytic activity to decompose rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiations with enhanced pH stability. Besides, the adsorption of Pb(II) on the Ag 3 PO 4 /HAP reached a maximum capacity of 250   mg/g and this value was approximately three times as that of pure HAP. Furthermore, the composite material exhibited excellent antibacterial activities towards gram-negative bacterium ( Escherichia coli ) and gram-positive bacterium ( Stphylococcus aureus ). The results highlighted the cooperative effect between Ag 3 PO 4 and hydroxyapatite (HAP). The simultaneous removals of dyes, toxic metal ions, and bacteria with a high efficiency followed an easy approach for the purification of contaminated water via the rationally designed material, in which the Ag 3 PO 4 /HAP composite might be developed as a general water treatment material with multiple functions.