REMOVAL OF FLUORIDE FROM WATER USING MARBLE SLURRY AND FLY ASH

Abstract

Fluoride is a ubiquitous element present in earth's crust and is also being added to the environment
anthropogenically. In lower concentrations, fluoride is an essential nutrient which aids in the formation of bones,
prevents tooth decay, etc whereas in higher concentrations it causes fluorosis, curvature of bones, dwarfishness,
brittling of bones, mental derangements, cancer, etc. and in extreme cases even death. In India, the states of
Rajasthan, Gujarath and Andhra Pradesh have a large number of villages where ground water contains excessive
fluorides. During the past few years, intensive interest in the problem of excessive fluorides in drinking water is a
matter of serious concern around the world. Present study aimed to assess selected industrial waste materials (marble
slurry and fly ash) for removal of fluoride from drinking water in order to find cost effective adsorbent. The influence
of various operational parameters viz. effect of adsorbent dose, pH, initial concentration and contact time were
studied by a series of batch adsorption experiments. This study revealed that marble slurry and fly ash adsorbent are
easily available and could be easily applied in order to reduce the fluoride pollution from drinking water.