Fluoride Action Network

Experimental and model study for fluoride removal by thermally activated sepiolite.

Source: Chemosphere 241:125094. [Epub ahead of print] | October 10th, 2019 | Authors: Lee JI, Hong SH, Lee CG, Park SJ.
Location: International
Industry type: Water Treatment
Note from Fluoride Action Network:
“Since all methods [to remove fluoride] produce a sludge with very high concentration of fluoride that has to be disposed of, only water for drinking and cooking purposes should be treated, particularly in the developing countries.”
Reference: Fluorosis (see Interventions), World Health Organization

Highlights

  • Thermal treatment for sepiolite improved the adsorption of fluoride.
  • The maximum adsorption capacity of thermally activated sepiolite was 169.95?mg/g.
  • Fluoride adsorption was chemisorption reaction and endothermic in nature.
  • The thermally activated sepiolite was also effective in a continuous flow system.

Abstract

The present investigation demonstrates the preparation of thermally activated sepiolite for effective removal of fluoride via adsorption from an aqueous solution. The thermal treatments on sepiolite were conducted at different temperatures (300–950?°C) for 4?h in an N2 atmosphere, and the thermally activated sepiolite was characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), a differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetric analyzer (DSC-TGA), and a surface area analyzer. Sepiolite that was treated at 950?°C was shown to have a higher fluoride removal efficiency than other temperatures. The fluoride removal was evaluated under different experimental conditions such as solution pH, adsorbent dose, reaction time, initial concentration, temperature, presence of co-existing ions, and reuses. The kinetic and equilibrium adsorption results were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm, respectively, and adsorption of fluoride onto thermally activated sepiolite was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity (169.95?mg/g) was superior to the literature value. The thermally activated sepiolite was also effective in a continuous flow system for treating fluoride. Thus, this thermally activated sepiolite is expected to be used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of fluoride in water.

*Abstract online at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653519323331