Efficiency of locally available filter media on fluoride and phosphate removal for household water treatment system

Abstract

Since conventional water treatment is not affordable in developing countries, looking for locally available and alternative treatment options is mandatory. Removal of fluoride and phosphate can be achieved by designing appropriate filtration media from different materials such as sand, calcined clay, pumice, scoria and bone char. This study was designed to determine the removal efficiency of these locally available filter media with respect to detention time and pH. The filtration apparatuses (tank) were filled separately with stone, gravel with grain size 0.6–4.75 mm and 40 cm deep, sand (ES = 0.15–0.35 mm and UC = 1.5–3), calcined clay, pumice, scoria and bone char with grain size 0.25–0.5 inch. Water samples were prepared using glass bottles with fluoride concentrations of 6 and 8 mg/l and phosphate concentration of 4 mg/l. Laboratory analysis was carried out before and after filtration to determine the removal efficiency of each medium. It was found that the highest removal of fluoride was achieved by...