Fluoride Removal From Aqueous Environments by Zncl2-Treated Eucalyptus Leaves As a Natural Adsorbent



Bazrafshan E^{1, 2} ; Khoshnamvand N¹ ; Mahvi AH^{2, 3}
Source: Fluoride Published:2015

Abstract

In the present study, the ability of ZnCl2-treated Eucalyptus leaves (70% dry leaves and 30% ZnCl2) to act as a natural adsorbent for fluoride (F) removal from synthetic solutions was investigated by the use of standard jar test measurements of the effects of the operating parameters of pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, temperature, and initial F concentration. The F adsorption capacity and its removal efficiency increased as the pH of the solution increased up to pH 6 when the maximum adsorption was observed (84.1 mg F/g of adsorpent with an adsorpent dosage of 0.5 g/L and an initial F concentrations of 50 mg/L). The F removal efficiency increased with increasing adsorbent dose, contact time, and F concentration. It was found that the data fitted to Langmuir model (R2=0.8469) better than the Freundlich model (R2=0.5995). The Standard Defluoridation Capacity for ZnCl2-treated Eucalyptus leaves (70% dry leaves and 30% ZnCl2) was estimated to be 3.5 mg F/g of ZnCl2-treated Eucalyptus leaves. © 2015 The International Society for Fluoride Research Inc.