FLUORIDE SORPTION USING MORRINGA INDICA-BASED ACTIVATED CARBON

Batch ad sorption expe riments using activated ca rbon prepared from Morringa Indica bark were conducted to remove fluoride from aqueous solution . A minimum contact time of 25 min was required for optimum fluo rid e removal. The influence of adsorbent, dose, pH , co-ions (cations and anions) on fluorid e removal by the activa ted carbon has been experimentally ve rified . The ad sorption of fluoride was studied at 30 °C , 40 °C and 50 °C . The kinetic s o f adsorption and adsorption isotherm s at d iffere nt temperatures were studied. The fluoride ad sorption obeyed both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and follow ed a pseudo first order kinetic model. The thermodynamic stud ies revealed that the fluoride ad so rption b y Morrin ga Indica is an endothermic process indicating an in crease in sorption rate at higher temperatures. The negative values of L l.G o indicate the spontaneity of adsorption. SEM and XRD studies confirmed the surface mo rphological characteristics of the adsorbent and the deposition of fluoride on the surface of the material.