DEFLUORIDATION STUDIES OF GROUND WATER USING NATURAL ADSORBENT PREPARED FROM MANGO BARK

Groundwater is counted as a renewable resource and is considered as a major source for fulfilling the exponentially increasing water demand across the world. However this source is depleting with increasing anthropogenic activities and addition of fluorides in the water and thus, deterioration of quality and supply of safe drinking water is a major concern throughout the world. The removal behaviors of fluoride ions from ground water by adsorption method using activated carbon were investigated. Water being one of the most essential substances found in abundance from nature bears the risk of high pollution from various sources where it plays a vital role to serve as a major ingredient to the flora and fauna making it to about 75% found on earth's crust. The aim of this research is to develop a cost-effective environment friendly adsorbent for removal of fluoride from ground water which can be applicable to rural areas of many developing countries. This research paper addresses Mangifera Indica (mango) bark for the removal of fluoride. The Activated carbon prepared has been characterized by XRD analysis. Batch experiments have been performed to reveal the influence of various parameters on adsorption experiment such as adsorbent dose (0.5- 2 gm), initial fluoride concentration (10-50ppm) and agitation time (30 – 150 min). The optimal value of 2gm adsorbent dose was observed where the adsorbent showed the maximum defluoridation capacity of 90%. The adsorption isotherms, Langmuir and Freundlich were plotted and from the achieved data, it is observed that both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms are well –fitted. The present study demonstrated that treated mangifera indica bark powder could remediate fluoride contaminated water. KEYWORDS: Fluoride, Adsorption, Adsorbent & Activated Carbon