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Field Experience of Fluoride Nilogon:A Method of Fluoride Removal from Groundwater


Affiliations
1 Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
 

Field trial of a patented fluoride removal method, based on precipitation–adsorption, has been carried out in some villages of Assam, North East India, with groundwater sources containing 1.8–20 mg/l initial [F–] at small community (220 l) and household (15 l) levels. Pre-acidified water containing 0.68 mM phos-phoric acid was treated in a crushed limestone bed (1–20 mm) for 3 h and filtered through a sand–gravel filter to retain a desired 0.7 mg/l [F–] with pH of 7.44–7.9 and relevant water quality parameters meeting WHO guidelines. A slightly higher dose can totally remove fluoride. The fluoride removal has been found to be independent of initial [F–]. The units have been showing consistent results till now for over five and half years and 4625 batches of use without requiring any interventions like reactivation, replacement or re-plenishment of the limestone bed. With consistent re-moval of fluoride from any initial concentration to a desired concentration, a recurring cost of only Rs 0.005/l of water and an estimated life of the lime-stone bed of about 50 years or 39,000 batches, this safe, environment-friendly and simple method without requiring electricity, has been gaining popularity as Fluoride Nilogon.

Keywords

Fluoride Removal, Groundwater, Hydroxy-apatite, Limestone Defluoridation, Phosphoric Acid.
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  • Field Experience of Fluoride Nilogon:A Method of Fluoride Removal from Groundwater

Abstract Views: 431  |  PDF Views: 111

Authors

Rajkamal Mohan
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
Sweety Gogoi
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
Anup J. Bora
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
Gautam Baruah
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
Shreemoyee Bordoloi
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
Asadulla A. Ali
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
Hridip R. Sarma
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India
Robin K. Dutta
Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028, India

Abstract


Field trial of a patented fluoride removal method, based on precipitation–adsorption, has been carried out in some villages of Assam, North East India, with groundwater sources containing 1.8–20 mg/l initial [F–] at small community (220 l) and household (15 l) levels. Pre-acidified water containing 0.68 mM phos-phoric acid was treated in a crushed limestone bed (1–20 mm) for 3 h and filtered through a sand–gravel filter to retain a desired 0.7 mg/l [F–] with pH of 7.44–7.9 and relevant water quality parameters meeting WHO guidelines. A slightly higher dose can totally remove fluoride. The fluoride removal has been found to be independent of initial [F–]. The units have been showing consistent results till now for over five and half years and 4625 batches of use without requiring any interventions like reactivation, replacement or re-plenishment of the limestone bed. With consistent re-moval of fluoride from any initial concentration to a desired concentration, a recurring cost of only Rs 0.005/l of water and an estimated life of the lime-stone bed of about 50 years or 39,000 batches, this safe, environment-friendly and simple method without requiring electricity, has been gaining popularity as Fluoride Nilogon.

Keywords


Fluoride Removal, Groundwater, Hydroxy-apatite, Limestone Defluoridation, Phosphoric Acid.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv118%2Fi2%2F255-263