Evaluation of industrial based adsorbents for simultaneous removal of arsenic and fluoride from drinking water

Evaluating the ability of industrial based adsorbents to remove arsenic and fluoride from drinking water has global significance due to their easy and widespread availability. Present study aimed to assess selected industrial waste materials for simultaneous removal of arsenic and fluoride from drinking water in order to find cost effective adsorbent. Commercially available Hydrated Cement, Marble Powder (waste) and Brick Powder (waste) were used. Adsorbents were characterized by using X-Ray Diffractrometry techniques. The surface morphology of adsorbents was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Batch adsorption tests were employed to evaluate the percent removal and adsorption capacity of adsorbents, under optimum conditions of adsorption time, dose, pH and adsorbate concentration. Removal percentage of studied adsorbents followed the decreasing trend: Hydrated Cement > Bricks Powder > Marble Powder. Hydrated Cement showed highest percentage removal, 97% and 80% for arsenic and fluoride respectively and was selected as the best media at neutral pH compared to other four adsorbents substantiating its potential for the drinking water treatment process. The applicability of the adsorbents for As was assessed under natural conditions with As contaminated groundwater samples collected from Tehsil Mailsi. In order to determine maximum adsorption capacity of adsorbents and to understand the nature of reaction on their surfaces, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm were calculated. This study revealed that this new adsorbent (Hydrate Cement) is indigenous, easily available and could be easily applied in order to diminish the arsenic and fluoride pollution from drinking water. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.