Aluminium-Fe amendment of activated bamboo charcoal for defluoridation of drinking water

The adsorbent, prepared from bamboo, was impregnated in AlCl3/FeCl3 solution and treated at 400 °C. This process resulted in a higher fluoride uptake capacity for the AIAABC. The AIAABC samples were characterised through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that inorganic particles were dispersed on the surface of the bamboo charcoal (ABC), indicating the presence of elements such as carbon, oxygen, iron, sodium, and sulfur. Fluoride was associated with the aluminium hydro(oxide) (Al(OH)3) particles in the pore spaces of ABC after adsorption. The specific surface area (SSA) of the AIAABC was reduced from 80.5 to 3.7 m2/g when impregnated with Al(OH)3 particles. This suggests that the Al(OH)3 particles may cover the surface or pore spaces of the ABC. The adsorption data were well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 21.1 mg/g. The adsorption process also obeyed a pseudo-second-order rate equation. The AIAABC was effectively regenerated by 0.1% NaOH, with a recovery rate of 85.7%. This indicates that the AIAABC can be reused multiple times, making it a cost-effective solution for defluoridation of drinking water. The high adsorption capacity of AIAABC compared to commercially available aluminium hydroxide-based adsorbents makes it a promising material for defluoridation of drinking water. The adsorption of fluoride onto AIAABC was found to be pH-dependent, with maximum adsorption occurring within a pH range of 5 to 9. The adsorption process was also influenced by the presence of inorganic particles on the surface of the ABC. The results suggest that AIAABC can be used as an effective adsorbent for defluoridation of drinking water, particularly in areas where fluoride levels are high.