A Novel Cobalt Modified Layered Double Hydroxide for the Efficient Removal of Fluoride

A novel and efficient Cobalt modified layered double hydroxide had been synthesized, characterized and evaluated for the adsorptive removal of fluoride from aqueous environment. Co-Mg-Al LDH was successfully synthesized by one step urea method. The rosette layered morphology of LDH was effective in adsorption of fluoride. Batch experiments were performed to study the influence of various experimental parameters. The experimental data revealed that maximum adsorption capacity of Co-Mg-Al-LDH is 58.82 mg/g at pH = 7, adsorbent dosage of 2 g/L, and molar ratio of Co/Mg = 0.33 in 120 minutes. The adsorption process of fluoride on Co-Mg-Al-LDH (0.33) can be depicted both by Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models, but the latter model is well fitted for the present experiment. The study of interfering anions showed that presence of carbonate and sulphate hinders the adsorption of fluoride than nitrate and chloride. Thus the results clearly demonstrate that the Co-Mg-Al-LDH could be developed into a viable and efficient adsorbent material applied in fluoride removing technologies.