Defluoridation of Water by a Biomass: Tinospora cordifolia

This research is focused on the search of a biomass for the sequestration of fluoride from drinking water. Defluoridation of water was studied by batch experiments in biosorption process. The biomass was found to reduce fluoride to permissible limit 1.5 mg/L as prescribed by WHO. The efficiency of the sorption process was investigated under different experimental parameters such as pH 7, standing time 120 min and biomass doses 7.0 g with 5 mg/L concentration of fluoride. Neutral pH was identified as the optimum condition of the medium and 120 minutes was the best contact time for maximum fluoride adsorption. The experimental data was found good fitting to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. In interference study tolerable effect was found with 50 mg/L concentration of co-ions, whereas increasing the concentration of co-ions retarded the fluoride removal capacity in some extent. FT-IR spectrum analysis showed fluoride binding in the different frequency ranges of the biomass. Eventually, this plant biomass is recommended as a suitable and low cost adsorbent to reduce fluoride into standard permissible limit.