The Potential of Minjingu Phosphate Rock for Water Defluoridation
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Date
2016-01-25
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
Abstract
In some parts of Tanzania, fluoride ion concentrations in potable water are higher than recommended by WHO.
Consequently, searches for economically and technically viable strategies are required to address this problem. This work aims to
determine the potential of phosphate rock mined from Minjingu area in Northern Tanzania as water de-fluoridatant. The results
obtained are reported herein. The rock particles were chemically activated and then characterised by XRF, XRD and nitrogen
physisorption. Results showed that the main component of chemically activated rock particles was calcium hydroxyapatite with
Ca/P ratio of 1.55 whereas the main component of non-activated particles was calcium fluoroapatite (Ca/P ratio of 1.66). The
results also indicated that activated rock material was mesoporous with a BET surface area of 57.4 m2/g. Results for water
defluoridation showed that the material had a fluoride ion percentage removal of about 90%, when the adsorbent dose was 8 g,
contact time of 30 minutes, initial fluoride ion concentration 5 mg/L, pH values of 6.0 to 7.2 and batch volume of 50 mL. The
material could be regenerated using 1% NaOH and reused in the water defluoridation process. Therefore, Minjingu Phosphate
Rock (MPR) is potential water de-fluoridatant.
Description
Keywords
Water Defluoridation, Minjingu Phosphate Rock, Potable Water, Adsorption-Desorption Isotherms, Tanzania
Citation
Francisco Lucas Olambo, Joseph Yoeza Naimani Philip, James Epiphan Gabriel Mdoe. The Potential of Minjingu Phosphate Rock for Water Defluoridation. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society. Vol. 4, No. 1, 2016, pp. 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.11