Fluoride removal from water by granular ceramic adsorption

A new medium, granular ceramic, has been developed for fluoride removal from water. Granular ceramic is a solid-phase medium that produces a stable Al-Fe surface complex for fluoride adsorption. BET, SEM, and EDS were used to characterize the physical attributes (particle size, pore size and distribution, surface roughness) of the granular ceramic. Fluoride adsorption characteristics were studied in a batch system with respect to changes in initial concentration of fluoride, pH of solution, and coexisting ions. Fluoride adsorption was found to be pH dependent and the maximum removal of fluoride was obtained at pH 5.0-8.0. equilibrium adsorption data were obtained at 293, 303, and 323 K, and interpreted in terms of the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations. The experimental data revealed that the Freundlich isotherm equation gives a more satisfactory fit for fluoride removal. The adsorption process was observed to follow a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and intraparticle diffusion was indicated to play a major role in fluoride uptake. Fluoride adsorption was reduced in the presence of phosphate and sulfate ions and increased slightly in the presence of chloride and nitrate ions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.