Performance of Low-Cost Adsorbents for the Removal of fluoride ions – An overview

Fluoride is a poison that accumulates in our bones. It has been associated with cancer in young males; osteoporosis; reduced I.Q; and hip fractures in the elderly, to name a few. The permissible limit of fluoride concentration in drinking water is 1.5mg/L according to WHO guidelines. Therefore, knowledge of its removal, using best technique with maximum efficiency is needed. Among various techniques adsorption occupies a prominent place in fluoride removal. As cost is an important consideration in most developing countries, efforts have been made to explore the possibility of using various low cost adsorbents that are abundant, readily available and are derived from waste materials. In this review, lists of adsorbents are overviewed and their feasibility for the removal of fluoride is studied with various affecting parameters.