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Equilibrium Studies of Fluoride Adsorption onto a Ferric Poly−mineral from Kenya
Wambu, Enos W.; Onindo, Charles O.; Ambusso, Willis & Muthakia, Gerald K.
Abstract
African countries along the Great Rift Valley are among areas of the world where excess
fluoride in water sources is a major public health problem. In this work, the removal of fluoride (F) from water
solutions using a ferric poly-mineral (FPM) from Kenya was therefore studied using batch adsorption
experiments. The effect of change in solution pH, temperature, initial concentration of F, mass of FPM, contact
time and presence of various competing ions on F adsorption onto FPM was evaluated. Adsorption isotherms
were then applied to the adsorption data to characterize and establish the adsorption capacity of the mineral. The
adsorption of F onto FPM was found to be a fast process and, at 1000 mg/L initial F concentration at pH 3.32
and 293 K and using 0.2 g/mL adsorbent dosage, over 90% F removal from solution could be achieved in 30
min. Based on Giles system of classification of adsorption isotherms, F adsorption isotherm conformed to L4
Langmuir-type isotherms. This indicated that FPM is composed of a heterogeneous surface consisting of sites
which, during adsorption, filled-up with F ions in succession. The adsorption data also correlated to Langmuir
and Freundlich models indicating that F adsorption onto FPM was a mixed process involving chemisorption
onto surface sites followed by gradual intra-particle penetration of F into mesoporous structure of the mineral.
High mean Langmuir adsorption capacity of 10.8 mg/g, indicate that the mineral could be of use as an
inexpensive substrate for the removal of F from aqueous streams.
Keywords
Adsorption isotherms; Equilibrium analysis; Ferric poly−mineral; Fluoride adsorption; Water fluoride
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