This research was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions, Batch experiments were performed to study the influence of various experimental parameters such as contact time (1 min-24 h), initial fluoride concentration (1-100 mg L(-1)), temperature (10 and 2S degrees C), pH (3-12) and the presence of competing anions on the adsorption of fluoride on GFH. Kinetic data revealed that the uptake rate of fluoride was rapid in the beginning and 95% adsorption was completed within 10 min and equilibrium was achieved within 60 min. The sorption process was well explained with pseudo-first-order and pore diffusion models. The maximum adsorption capacity of GFH for fluoride removal was 7.0 mg g(-1). The adsorption was found to be an endothermic process and data conform to Langmuir model. The optimum fluoride removal was observed between pH ranges of 4-8. The fluoride adsorption was decreased in the presence of phosphate followed by carbonate and sulphate. Results from this study demonstrated potential utility of GFH that could be developed into a viable technology for fluoride removal from drinking water.

The present research evaluates the efficacy of granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) for perchlorate removal from aqueous solutions. Laboratory scale experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of various experimental parameters such as contact time, initial perchlorate concentration, temperature, pH and competing anions on perchlorate removal by GFH. Results demonstrated that perchlorate uptake rate was rapid and maximum adsorption was completed within first 30 min and equilibrium was achieved within 60 min. Pseudo-second-order model favorably explains the sorption mechanism of perchlorate on to GFH. The maximum sorption capacity of GFH for perchlorate was ca. 20.0 mg g(-1) at pH 6.0-6.5 at room temperature (25 degrees C). The optimum perchlorate removal was observed between pH range of 3-7. The Raman spectroscopy results revealed that perchlorate was adsorbed on GFH through electrostatic attraction between perchlorate and positively charged surface sites. Results from this study demonstrated potential utility of GFH that could be developed into a viable technology for perchlorate removal from water.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of nano-alumina for nitrate removal from aqueous solutions. The nature and morphology of sorbent was characterized by XRD, FTIR, BET and SEM analysis. Batch adsorption studies were performed as a function of contact time, initial nitrate concentration, temperature, pH and influence of other interfering anions. Nitrate sorption kinetics was well fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum sorption capacity of nano-alumina for nitrate removal was found to be ca. 4.0 mg g(-1) at 25 +/- 2 degrees C. Maximum nitrate removal occurred at equilibrium pH ca. 4.4. The nitrate sorption has been well explained using Langmuir isotherm model. Results from this study demonstrated the potential utility of nano-alumina for nitrate removal from water.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of nano-alumina (Al(2)O(3)) for fluoride adsorption from aqueous solutions. The nature and morphology of pure and fluoride-sorbed nano-alumina were characterized by SEM with EDX, XRD, and FTIR analysis. Batch adsorption studies were performed as a function of contact time, initial fluoride concentration, temperature, pH and influence of competing anions. Fluoride sorption kinetics was well fitted by pseudo-second-order model. The maximum sorption capacity of nano-alumina for fluoride removal was found to be 14.0 mg g(-1) at 25 degrees C. Maximum fluoride removal occurred at pH 6.15. The fluoride sorption has been well explained using Langmuir isotherm model. Fluoride sorption was mainly influenced by the presence of PO(4)(3-), SO(4)(2-) and CO(3)(2-) ions.

Fluoride contamination in drinking water due to natural and anthropogenic activities has been recognized as one of the major problems worldwide imposing a serious threat to human health. Among several treatment technologies applied for fluoride removal, adsorption process has been explored widely and offers satisfactory results especially with mineral-based and/or surface modified adsorbents. In this review, an extensive list of various adsorbents from literature has been compiled and their adsorption capacities under various conditions (pH, initial fluoride concentration, temperature, contact time, adsorbent surface charge, etc.) for fluoride removal as available in the literature are presented along with highlighting and discussing the key advancement on the preparation of novel adsorbents tested so far for fluoride removal. It is evident from the literature survey that various adsorbents have shown good potential for the removal of fluoride. However, still there is a need to find out the practical utility of such developed adsorbents on a commercial scale, leading to the improvement of pollution control.