Effect of Particle Size on Loading Capacity and Water Quality in Water Defluoridation with 200°C Calcined Bauxite, Gypsum, Magnesite and their Composite Filter
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2012-01-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
Defluoridation was carried out with bauxite, gypsum, magnesite and their composite calcined at 200°C
to determine relationship between particle size, capacity and water quality, in an attempt to formulate a
composite filter in the ratio of loading capacities. Particles of 0.5 to 1.0, 1.0 to 1.4, 1.4 to 2.0 and 2.0 to
3.0 mm diameter were employed in batch defluoridation. Color, hardness, pH,
3 2 F ,Cl , Al ,Fe
were
determined hourly until fluoride equilibrium was obtained. Results showed that capacities were
inversely correlated to particle size obtaining polynomial, linear and logarithmic relations of capacity
(mg/g) to particle size (mm);
Cs
Pz Pz
2
( )
(composite, gypsum), Cs
Pz
(bauxite) and
Cs
ln Pz
(magnesite). Bauxite, gypsum and composite decreased but magnesite increased pH.
Particle size and pH changes were positively correlated, highly for bauxite (r2
= 0.915), fairly for
composite and magnesite (r2
= 0.855 and 0.853, respectively) and lowly correlated for gypsum (r2
=
0.562). Smaller particles obtained higher apparent colour, hardness, alkalinity and sulphate. There was
no relationship between particle size and
3 2 Cl , Al ,Fe . Sorption capacities of these materials
increase with decrease in particle size, however decrease in particle size enhances colour, hardness
and sulphate levels. In optimizing the materials for defluoridation particle size can be decreased while
monitoring colour, hardness, alkalinity and sulphate levels. Particles of diameter 2 mm were optimum in
the present experiments.
Description
Keywords
Bauxite, composite, defluoridation, gypsum, magnesite
Citation
Thole, B., Mtalo, F. and Masamba, W., 2012. Effect of particle size on loading capacity and water quality in water defluoridation with 200 C calcined bauxite, gypsum, magnesite and their composite filter. African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 6(2), pp.26-34.