Fluoride removal performance of phosphoric acid treated lime: breakthrough analysis and point-of-use system performance

Murutu, Cyprian; Onyango, Maurice S; Ochieng, Aoyi; Otieno, Fred AO

Fluoride removal performance of phosphoric acid treated lime: breakthrough analysis and point-of-use system performance

2012

Murutu, Cyprian(Tshwane University of Technology Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering) | Onyango, Maurice S(Tshwane University of Technology Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering) | Ochieng, Aoyi(Vaal University of Technology Department of Chemical Engineering) | Otieno, Fred AO(Durban University of Technology)

Fluoride in drinking water above permissible levels is responsible for dental and skeletal fluorosis. In this study, removal of fluoride ions from water using phosphoric acid treated lime was investigated in continuous and point-of-use system operations. In the continuous column operations, fluoride removal performance was investigated as a function of the fluoride concentration, flow rate and amount of adsorbent mass. Early saturation and lower fluoride removal were observed at higher flow rate and initial concentration, and at lower mass. Two domestic defluoridation point-of-use systems operated intermittently to process 20 ℓ.day-1 of water were used. High fluoride uptake capacity (FUC) from groundwater was observed depicting the suitability of the new media in defluoridation. However, further research is required to optimise the point-of-use systems performances.

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