Investigation of Defluoridation of Groundwater for Drinking Using Nano-Alumina Modified Bone Char (NAMBC)

Abstract

Fluoride Contamination In Drinking Water Is A Widespread Problem Affecting Millions Globally. Bone Char (Bc) Is An Inexpensive, Natural Material That Has Shown Promised As An Adsorbent For Defluoridation. However, Bc Has Limited Adsorption Property Toward Fluoride. The Utilization Of Nano Alumina Effect Was Not Well Investigated. The Main Objective Of This Research Was To Enhance The Fluoride Removal Capacity Of Bone Char By Modification With Nano Alumina. Cattle Bone Char Synthesized By Controlled Pyrolysis And Modified Bone Char With Gamma Alumina Nanoparticle Developed By Sol-Gel Method Were Characterized By Ftir, Xrd, Tga And Bet Analysis. Nano Alumina Used To Produce A Composite With Bone Char At Ratios Of 1:0, 1:1, 2:1, And 0:1. Moreover, Bone Char And Modified Bone Char Physicochemical Properties Were Tested. The Spent Adsorbent Could Be Regenerated Using Naoh. The Bone Char Was Shown The Highest Fluoride Removal Of 84.2 % From A 10 Mg/L Fluoride Solution. The 2:1 Composite Displayed The Best Performance With 97.3 % Fluoride Removal And The Maximum Adsorption Capacity Was 3.47mg/G. Characterization Confirmed That Fluoride Adsorption Occurred Due To Hydroxyapatite Ion Exchange In Bone Char And Hydroxyl Groups Provided From Nano Alumina. Fluoride Adsorption Isotherm Was Well Fitted By Langmuir Isotherm Model And The Adsorption Kinetic Followed The Pseudo-Second-Order Model. Application Of Nambc Was Carried Out On The Real Water Containing 7.95 Mg/L Of Fluoride. Despite The Presence Of Co-Existence Ion And Additional Parameter In Real Water Sample, Fluoride Concentration Could Be Reduced To 1.3 Mg/L (83.6 % Removal), Which Was Lower Than World Health Organization (Who) Standard (1.5 Mg/L). This Research Demonstrated The Promised Of Bone Char Nano Alumina Composites As Low-Cost And Effective Adsorbent For Defluoridation From Water.