Influence of Acid and Heat Treatment on the Removal of Fluoride by Red Mud

Abstract

Fluoride removal by acid and heat treated red mud were studied in batch and column system regarding contact time, initial concentration, pH, adsorbent dose, and filter depth. The results showed that acid treated with 0.8 M HCl, had highest adsorption capacity of fluoride and adsorption capacity decreased as heat treatment temperature increased. Sorption equilibrium reached in 30 min at a initial concentration of 50 mg-F/L but 1 h was required to reach the sorption equilibrium at the initial concentration of 500 mg-F/L by 0.8 M acid treated red mud (0.8 M-ATRM). Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted well to Langmuir isotherm model with maximum fluoride adsorption capacity of 23.162 mg/g. The fluoride adsorption decreased as pH increased due to the fluoride competition for favorable adsorption site with OH at higher pH. Removal percentage was increased but the amount of adsorption per unit mass decreased by adding the amount of 0.8 M-ATRM. It was concluded that the 0.8 M-ATRM could be used as a potential adsorbent for the fluoride removal from aqueous solutions because of its high fluoride adsorption capacity and low cost.