Adsorption isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies for adsorption of fluoride on waste marble powder

Economically viable, efficient waste marble powder (WMP) for fluoride removal has been studied. A batch adsorption study has been carried out concerning contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperature. After using a batch adsorption mode, 97.13 % removal efficiency was observed with an adsorption capacity of 1.166 mg/g at the initial fluoride concentration of 6 mg/L, solution pH of 6, adsorbent dosage of 500 mg, temperature of 35 degrees C, and contact time of 60 min. According to kinetics studies, the experimental adsorption data fit well in a nonlinear pseudo-second order with the adjusted-R2 value 0.999, and the nonlinear Langmuir isotherm model fitted best with the adjusted-R2 value 0.988. The separation factor (RL) values were within the range of 0.178 - 0.086, suggesting a satisfactory uptake of fluoride ions. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption process was endothermic, and negative values of Gibbs free energy change ( Go) indicated spontaneous fluoride adsorption. In contrast, a positive value of entropy change ( So= 65.26) indicated arbitrary behaviour at the interface between the solid and the solution. Fluoride removal from aqueous solution was also studied using a continuous fixed-bed column. The Yoon-Nelson model, with a higher adjustedR2 value of 0.9906, described the dynamics of the fluoride adsorption process better than the Adams-Bohart model because it had better predictions for the breakthrough curve. According to the regeneration analysis, 52 % of the adsorption rate with an adsorption capacity of 0.604 mg/g could be achieved even after five cycles of WMP regeneration.