Sustainable Defluoridation of Water: Fixed-Bed Adsorption Column Studies Using Zirconium Doped Sunflower Seed Husk as an Adsorbent

Abstract

Numerous health problems resulting from elevated fluoride levels in drinking water affect millions of people worldwide. In order to eliminate ions of fluoride from water, the current study details the adsorption effectiveness of a zirconium-doped sunflower seed husk (ZrO2/SSH) adsorbent made using a hydrothermal carbonization process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to evaluate the powdered adsorbent., In a bed that is fixed, the potential of zirconium-doped sunflower seed husk to remove fluoride from real and synthetic groundwater samples was investigated. Fluoride removal was examined in relation to key parameters like input flow rate, height of the column bed, and influent fluoride content of solution. To assess the experimental data and comprehend the impact on biosorption performance, Yoon-Nelson and Thomas models were employed. Fluoride ion desorption was achieved by pumping a 0.1 M HCl solution. Through multiple cycles of fluoride adsorption and desorption, the reusability of the adsorbent was investigated. The effectiveness of ZrO2/SSH adsorbent in removing fluoride from groundwater samples in the Tumakuru district's Pavagada taluk was investigated in a packed column. According to the results of the entire investigation, this adsorbent showed promise in removing fluoride from groundwater and aqueous solutions.