Studies on the de-fluoridation efficacy of Chrysopogon zizaniodides Ocimum tenuiflorum and their combinational use

Fluoride in drinking water can be detrimental to health and causes many health problems to human beings. Excess of fluoride in drinking water has become a threat in recent days due to the lesser availability of potable groundwater resource especially in rural areas. Hence there is a pressing demand for the solution of fluoride contamination using natural bioadsorbants. In the present study a cost effective method of de-fluoridation using two medicinal plant species Chrysopogon zizaniodides and Ocimum tenuiflorum have been investigated which are cost effective bio adsorbents. The investigation was carried out on the adsorption of fluoride ion to analyze the effect of various parameters like contact time adsorbent dose particle size and the combination of the plants as adsorbents. The Hydrophonic study revealed that the plants of Chrysopogon zizaniodides reduced 3.5 mg L-1 of fluoride after treatment when compared to 1.2 mg L-1 reductions by Ocimum tenuiflourum. The combinations of Chrysopogon zizaniodides Ocimum tenuiflorum in the ratio of 21 revealed the maximum defluoridation efficiency ranging from 65 to 89 correspondingly from 1 to 5mg L-1 fluoride concentration. The maximum percentage removal of fluoride ion occurs at 24 h contact time and with least particle size 1mm. The defluoridation increases with the increases in the adsorbent dose due to increase in surface area. Thus a cost effective method of de-fluoridation using Chrysopogon zizaniodides and Ocimum tenuiflorum will be much beneficial especially in rural areas.