A new efficient indigenous material for simultaneous removal of fluoride and inorganic arsenic species from groundwater

The contaminated groundwater is one of emerging environmental issue in Pakistan and biosorbent considered to be the best alternative to improve the quality of groundwater. Thus, an indigenous biosorbent, Cucumis pubescens (peel of fruit) has been carried out efficiently for simultaneous removal of arsenic species and fluoride from groundwater. The characterization of bio-sorbent for removal of As species (As-III, As-V) and F- was studied by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. Batch experiments were carried out for the optimization of adsorption capacity at different parameters such as pH (3-11), concentration of biosorbates (100-500 mu g/L) for As species and F- ion), biosorbent dose (2-6 g/L), contact time (10-60 min) and temperature (303-323 K). The influence of common ions was also investigated. The different biosorption isotherms were applied to determine the most appropriate equilibrium curves for the removal/biosorption of As species and F- by a biosorbents. The mean sorption energy calculated from Dubinin-Radushkevich model, indicated chemisorptions phenomena. Thermodynamic parameters indicated the biosorption phenomena of As-III, As-V and F- ions were spontaneous and exothermic. The removal study of study analytes indicated that the sorption kinetics based on pseudo-second-order equation.