Removal of fluoride from water using aluminium containing compounds

Batch adsorption studies were undertaken to assess the suitability of aluminium titanate (AT) and bismuth aluminate (BA) to remove fluoride ions from water. The effect of pH, dose of adsorbent, contact time, initial concentration, co-ions and temperature on fluoride removal efficiency were studied. The amounts of fluoride ions adsorbed, at 30°C from 4 mg/L of fluoride ion solution, by AT and BA were 0.85 and 1.55 mg/g, respectively. The experimental data fitted well to the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH0, ΔS0 and ΔG0 indicated that the removal of fluoride ions by AT was exothermic and non-spontaneous while that by BA was endothermic and spontaneous. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the adsorbent before and after adsorption indicated that fluoride ions were chemisorbed by these adsorbents.