Comparative Study on Removal of Fluoride from Groundwater by Natural and Modified Bagasse Carbon of Sugarcane

Aim: To design and develop a novel, cost effective strategy for fluoride removal, applicable to rural areas of developing countries.

Study Design: Laboratory analysis for different parameters.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry, University of Allahabad and Department of Chemistry, Institute of Engineering and Technology. June 2014 to January 2015 is the time duration for this analysis.

Methodology: Batch adsorption study was conducted to determine the optimum conditions for defluoridation. The effects of pH, adsorbent dose, initial fluoride concentration, and contact time on adsorption were studied. Natural Bagasse Carbon (NBC) and Modified Bagasse Carbon (MBC) were used as low-cost agricultural biomass based adsorbents.

Results: The NBC and MBC removed 51.8 and 58.4% respectively from an aqueous solution of 5 mg/L fluoride at pH 6.0, with the contact period of 75 min and a dose of 4 gm/L. All adsorption experimental data followed the Freundlich isotherm. Adsorption of fluoride on all studied adsorbents from aqueous solution followed pseudo-second order reaction, and the mechanism of fluoride removal on adsorbents was found to be complex.

Conclusion: Significant amount of fluoride can be reduced in the neutral pH range by these adsorbents, which makes them suitable for utilize in drinking water treatment, especially in rural areas where minimum facilities are available.