Removal of fluoride from water using H2O2-treated fine red mud doped in Zn-alginate beads as adsorbent

Beads prepared by entrapping H2O2-treated fine red mud in the zinc-alginate (RMZAB), are investigated as adsorbent for their sorption nature towards the fluoride ions from water. De-fluoridation ability is found to be: 0.72 mg/g at optimum extraction conditions. The immobilization of the activated red mud in the zinc-alginate beads has facilitated the easy filtration in addition to the enhancement of sorption characteristics. Surface morphological investigations, analysis of nature and kinetics of adsorption and thermodynamical studies are carried out. Sorption nature is not lost even after ten times of regeneration and by repetitive use of the RMZAB, complete de-fluoridation is achieved.