The removal of fluoride ion from aqueous solution by a cation synthetic resin

Abstract

The removal of fluoride ion in aqueous solution by using an aluminum-formed synthetic resin, Amberlite IR-120 (MERCK, USA), was studied in this research. The experimental results indicated that the removal efficiency was influenced significantly by solution pH and the optimum operating pH was found to be in the range of 5–7. The removal of fluoride by Amberlite IR-120 resin was increased with the presence of sulfate ions in aqueous solution. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms can adequately describe the equilibrium behaviors of the adsorption processes. The surface reaction-limiting kinetic model can adequately describe the removal behaviors of fluoride ion by Amberlite IR-120 in batch systems. Results for column experiments indicate that the utilization of contact bed and the removal capacities improved with increasing empty bed contact time (EBCT). The Bed-Depth-Service-Time (BDST) model can describe the removal behavior of fluoride in the column adequately, indicating that the removal rate was possibly determined by the surface reaction step.

Keywords:

• Cation Exchanger
• Resin
• Fluoride

Acknowledgments