Defluoridation from aqueous solutions by nano-alumina: characterization and sorption studies

J Hazard Mater. 2011 Feb 28;186(2-3):1042-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.102. Epub 2010 Dec 3.

Abstract

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°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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Aluminum Oxide / chemistry*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Fluorides / analysis
  • Fluorides / isolation & purification*
  • Hazardous Substances
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Models, Chemical
  • Nanoparticles
  • Solutions
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Temperature
  • Thermodynamics
  • Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification
  • Water Purification
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Hazardous Substances
  • Solutions
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Water
  • Aluminum Oxide
  • Fluorides