A new low-cost hydroxyapatite for efficient immobilization of lead.

Distiller waste (DW), a common by-product of soda ash plants, was used as the unique calcium source to produce low-cost hydroxyapatites (HAPs) for the first time. The DW-derived HAPs were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and BET methods and investigated as amendments for soil Pb immobilization. The DW-derived HAPs displayed relatively smaller particle size (30-80 nm) and larger BET specific surface areas (60.