FLUORIDE REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES

High concentrations of fluoride ion (F) above the optimum level can lead to dental, skeletal, and non-skeletal fluorosis. The data presents a method for F removal from F-containing wastewaters. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were applied as an adsorbent to remove F ions from aqueous solutions. The structural properties of the ZnO NPs were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. A batch adsorption experiment was conducted to consider the influence of different parameters such as pH (2-10), contact time (20-100 min), initial F concentration (15-40 mg/L), and ZnO NPs dosage (0.02-0.09 g/L). Adsorption kinetic and isotherm data were also calculated. Optimum conditions of pH 6, adsorbent dose: 0.09 g/L, time: 60 min, and initial F concentration: 20 mg/L were obtained at 97.5% efficiency. The kinetic data followed the Ho kinetic model with correlation coefficient (R-2) of 0.999 at 20 mg/L. The isotherm data fitted into the Langmuir isotherm. The experimental data obtained indicated that the use of ZnO NPs adsorbent for the reduction of F in F containing wastewater is feasible.