Utilization of waste phosphogypsum to prepare hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and its application towards removal of fluoride from aqueous solution

► A novel approach on recycle of waste phosphogypsum was exploited. ► Phosphogypsum was utilized to prepare hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with high purity. ► nHAp derived from PG exhibits excellent adsoprtion capacity for fluoride. ► Fluoride adsorbs onto nHAp mainly by electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond.