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Defluoridation of water using activated alumina in presence of natural organic matter via response surface methodology

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Abstract

Adsorption by activated alumina is considered to be one of the most practiced methods for defluoridation of freshwater. This study was conducted, therefore, to investigate the effect of natural organic matters (NOMs) on the removal of fluoride by activated alumina using response surface methodology. To the authors’ knowledge, this has not been previously investigated. Physico-chemical characterization of the alumina was determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to evaluate the effect of single and combined parameters on the independent variables such as the initial concentration of fluoride, NOMs, and pH on the process. The results revealed that while presence of NOM and increase of pH enhance fluoride adsorption on the activated alumina, initial concentration of fluoride has an adverse effect on the efficiency. The experimental data were analyzed and found to be accurately and reliably fitted to a second-order polynomial model. Under optimum removal condition (fluoride concentration 20 mg/L, NOM concentration 20 mg/L, and pH 7) with a desirability value of 0.93 and fluoride removal efficiency of 80.6 %, no significant difference was noticed with the previously reported sequence of the co-exiting ion affinity to activated alumina for fluoride removal. Moreover, aluminum residual was found to be below the recommended value by the guideline for drinking water. Also, the increase of fluoride adsorption on the activated alumina, as NOM concentrations increase, could be due to the complexation between fluoride and adsorbed NOM.

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Acknowledgments

This research was founded by Hamedan University of Medical Science (Grant No. 9209052865). The authors also would like to thank Mr. Zarrabi for his assistance in analysis of the material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Samarghandi, Maryam Foroughi & Hasan Zolghadr Nasab

  2. School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia

    Mehdi Khiadani

  3. Environment Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Mehdi Khiadani

Authors
  1. Mohammad Reza Samarghandi
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  2. Mehdi Khiadani
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  3. Maryam Foroughi
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  4. Hasan Zolghadr Nasab
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maryam Foroughi.

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Responsible editor: Marcus Schulz

Highlights

• Modeling and optimization of NOM effect on fluoride removal by activated alumina.

• Despite fluoride, increase of NOM concentration and pH enhance the removal.

• Investigation on the effect of co-existing ions and aluminum residual.

• The ions affinity to activated alumina was in accordance with the already reported sequence.

• Aluminum residuals were below the recommended value for drinking water.

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Samarghandi, M.R., Khiadani, M., Foroughi, M. et al. Defluoridation of water using activated alumina in presence of natural organic matter via response surface methodology. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 887–897 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5293-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5293-x

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