Application of response surface methodology for defluoridation of water using zirconia-activated carbon nanocomposite

ABSTRACT

Fluoride overexposure, especially through drinking water, poses a severe risk to people all over the world. There are several ways to get rid of fluoride, but adsorption technologies are typically seen to be the most appealing in view of their efficiency, practicality, simplicity of operation, and attractiveness from an economic and environmental standpoint. In the current work, Zirconia and activated carbon nanocomposite (Zr-AC) were researched for the adsorption of fluoride from water. The impact of the various factors, viz. Zr-AC dosage (0.25–2.5 g/L), initial concentration of fluoride (2–32 ppm), pH (2.0–7.0) and contact time (30–180 min) and their effect on adsorption of fluoride was examined by using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). At pH 7, initial fluoride concentration of 2 ppm, contact time of 180 min, and Zr-AC dosage of 2.5 g/L, fluoride removal was around 95% using Zr-AC composite. Surface characterisation of the prepared adsorbent was done using SEM-EDS and FTIR. The obtained results indicate that Zr-AC gave good results and therefore could be used for treating fluoride-contaminated water.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Defluoridation
• zirconium
• activated carbon
• RSM
• CCD

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Vision Group on Science and Technology (VGST), Govt. of Karnataka: [Grant Number KSTePS/VGST/RGS-F/GRD No.999/2020-21/156, Dated 26.08.2021].