Fluoride Removal Capacity of Regenerated Bone Char in Treatment of Drinking Water

Fluoride plays significant biological roles in human body. However, intake of more than 1.5 ppm fluoride causes serious health concern particularly fluorosis. Drinking water with high levels of fluoride is the major cause of fluorosis. This condition is untreatable and prevention is the best mitigation method. With most of the water treatment methods being costly and out of reach of most poor populations, a conventional fluoride removal method from water that is applicable to smallholders is of much necessity. Bone char regenerated with 2% NaOH was investigated for the feasibility to be used as a cost effective to reduce fluoride concentration in drinking water to acceptable limits. Samples of 40 gms bone char each were packed in columns and 50 ml of 5.96 ppm borehole water were added, after 20 minutes of contact time fluoride analysed using fluoride meter. Fluoride of unknown samples was analysed using fluoride meter. Regenerated bone char was able to treat about 6.85 litres of water before breakthrough of 1.5 ppm as compared to fresh bone char that treated 7.56 litres. This translates to removal capacities of 0.880 and 0.988 mg/g for regenerated and fresh bone char respectively. In conclusion, the results suggest that regenerated bone char is a viable option for reducing excess fluoride in drinking water.