Innovative Use of Wood Ash for Fluoride Removal from Water: Comprehensive Experiments and Mechanism Insight
Source abstract
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of wood ash (WA), a by-product of wood-based energy production, as an eco-friendly alternative for removing fluoride from water. Kinetic analysis revealed that WA enables rapid fluoride removal, reaching equilibrium within 1 h (112.09 ± 3.9 mg/g). Equilibrium analysis demonstrated that WA exhibits a Langmuir maximum capacity of 157.34 mg/g, indicating a high adsorption capacity that ranks within the top 10% of reported adsorbents (34th out of 328). According to thermodynamic analysis, the adsorption process appears to be both endothermic and spontaneous at elevated temperatures. pH dependence studies showed that while the fluoride adsorption capacity of WA peaked under acidic conditions, it remained relatively stable (116.01 ± 0.8 mg/g) over a wide range of pH levels (5 to 11). An optimal dosage of 6.67 g/L achieved a greater than 98% fluoride removal rate. Coexisting anions affected the fluoride adsorption capacity of WA, with the order of influence being PO43− > CO32− >> SO42− > NO3− ≈ Cl−. Mechanistic analyses confirmed the surface precipitation of CaF2 as the primary mechanism responsible for fluoride removal. With a Ca content of over 66 wt.%, WA facilitates enhanced fluoride removal. Overall, this study highlights the efficacy of WA as a sustainable adsorbent for the removal of fluoride from water, contributing to the valorization of WA in wastewater treatment applications.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Fluoride Effects and Removal · Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis · Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Institute of Agricultural Environmental Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea
Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyeong 53064, Republic of Korea
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, Pusan 46241, Republic of Korea
Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering & Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Institute of Green Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Republic of Korea
Department of Bioresources and Rural Systems Engineering, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea
Funding
Korea Forest Service (Korea Forestry Promotion Institute)
References (65)
Show source-provided references
1. Borgohain, X., Boruah, A., Sarma, G.K., and Rashid, M.H. (2020). Rapid and extremely high adsorption performance of porous MgO nanostructures for fluoride removal from water. J. Mol. Liq., 305.10.1016/j.molliq.2020.112799 ↗
2. Batch and column adsorption and desorption of fluoride using hydrous ferric oxide: Solution chemistry and modeling10.1016/j.cej.2014.03.009 ↗
3. Lee, J.-I., Kang, J.-K., Lee, C.-G., and Park, S.-J. (2023). Valorization of waste gypsum board as a green adsorbent for efficient fluoride removal in groundwater and wastewater treatment. Environ. Technol. Innov., 32.10.1016/j.eti.2023.103444 ↗
4. Activated carbon prepared from hazelnut shell waste and magnetized by Fe3O4 nanoparticles for highly efficient adsorption of fluoride10.1007/s13399-022-02593-z ↗
5. The equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption of the fluoride ion on to synthetic nano sodalite zeolite
6. Othmani, A., John, J., Rajendran, H., Mansouri, A., Sillanpää, M., and Chellam, P.V. (2021). Biochar and activated carbon derivatives of lignocellulosic fibers towards adsorptive removal of pollutants from aqueous systems: Critical study and future insight. Sep. Purif. Technol., 274.10.1016/j.seppur.2021.119062 ↗
7. The genetic influence in fluorosis10.1016/j.etap.2017.09.008 ↗
8. Investigation on the simultaneous removal of fluoride, ammonia nitrogen and phosphate from semiconductor wastewater using chemical precipitation10.1016/j.cej.2016.08.134 ↗
9. Sim, J., Lee, J., Rho, H., Park, K.-D., Choi, Y., Kim, D., Kim, H., and Woo, Y.C. (2023). A review of semiconductor wastewater treatment processes: Current status, challenges, and future trends. J. Clean. Prod., 429.10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139570 ↗
10. Fluoride removal from water by using green magnetic activated carbon derived from canola stalks10.1007/s11270-022-05900-6 ↗
11. Sinharoy, A., and Chung, C.M. (2024). Fluoride removal from wastewater and potential for resource recovery: Comparative studies between different treatment technologies. Environ. Eng. Res., 29.10.4491/eer.2024.179 ↗
12. Application of bottom ash from cattle manure combustion for removing fluoride and inactivating pathogenic bacteria in wastewater10.1016/j.cherd.2022.09.018 ↗
13. Wan, K., Huang, L., Yan, J., Ma, B., Huang, X., Luo, Z., Zhang, H., and Xiao, T. (2021). Removal of fluoride from industrial wastewater by using different adsorbents: A review. Sci. Total Environ., 773.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145535 ↗
14. Application of a new adsorbent for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.04.017 ↗
15. Adsorption of fluoride from aqueous solutions by a chitosan/zeolite composite
16. Meng, Y., Chen, D., Li, Y., Sheng, W., Liu, Y., Yang, H., and Qian, G. (2024). Preparation of a novel magnetic composite based on rice straw derived biochar and chromium ferrite for enhanced absorption of organic dye. Environ. Eng. Res., 29.10.4491/eer.2024.028 ↗
17. Evaluation of the Design and Operating Conditions of an Adsorption Reactor for Hydrogen Sulfide Removal in Biogas10.4491/KSEE.2024.46.11.668 ↗
18. Xu, L., Wu, C., Chai, C., Cao, S., Bai, X., Ma, K., Jin, X., Shi, X., and Jin, P. (2022). Adsorption of micropollutants from wastewater using iron and nitrogen co-doped biochar: Performance, kinetics and mechanism studies. J. Hazard. Mater., 424.10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127606 ↗
19. Optimization of fluoride removal from aqueous solution using Jamun (Syzygium cumini) leaf ash10.1016/j.psep.2017.10.022 ↗
20. Physico-chemical characterization of metal-doped bone chars and their adsorption behavior for water defluoridation10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.07.163 ↗
21. Polypyrrole-grafted peanut shell biological carbon as a potential sorbent for fluoride removal: Sorption capability and mechanism10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.08.016 ↗
22. Fluoride removal from groundwater using chemically modified rice husk and corn cob activated carbon10.1080/09593330.2018.1459871 ↗
23. Lee, J.-I., Kang, J.-K., Hong, S.-H., Lee, C.-G., Jeong, S., and Park, S.-J. (2021). Thermally treated Mytilus coruscus shells for fluoride removal and their adsorption mechanism. Chemosphere, 263.10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128328 ↗
24. Bone char as a green sorbent for removing health threatening fluoride from drinking water10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.065 ↗
25. Mg-doped nano ferrihydrite—A new adsorbent for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.12.047 ↗
26. Low-cost adsorbents for environmental pollution control: A concise systematic review from the prospective of principles, mechanism and their applications10.1080/01932691.2021.1878037 ↗
27. Yadav, A.K., Yadav, H.K., Naz, A., Koul, M., Chowdhury, A., and Shekhar, S. (2022). Arsenic removal technologies for middle-and low-income countries to achieve the SDG-3 and SDG-6 targets: A review. Environ. Adv., 9.10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100262 ↗
28. Resource quality of wood waste: The importance of physical and chemical impurities in wood waste for recycling10.1016/j.wasman.2019.02.005 ↗
29. Utilization of wood ash in concrete manufacturing10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.07.004 ↗
30. Co-composting of biowaste and wood ash, influence on a microbially driven-process10.1016/j.wasman.2015.09.015 ↗
31. Lee, J.-I., Jadamba, C., Yoo, S.-C., Lee, C.-G., Shin, M.-C., Lee, J., and Park, S.-J. (2023). Cycling of phosphorus from wastewater to fertilizer using wood ash after energy production. Chemosphere, 336.10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139191 ↗
32. Removal of Ni and Zn in contaminated neutral drainage by raw and modified wood ash10.1080/10934529.2016.1237120 ↗
33. Removal of color, COD and lignin of pulp and paper wastewater using wood ash
34. F sorption/desorption on two soils and on different by-products and waste materials10.1007/s11356-016-6959-8 ↗
35. Wang, J., and Guo, X. (2020). Adsorption kinetic models: Physical meanings, applications, and solving methods. J. Hazard. Mater., 390.10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122156 ↗
36. New insights into pseudo-second-order kinetic equation for adsorption10.1016/j.colsurfa.2008.01.032 ↗
37. Enhanced fluoride adsorption on aluminum-impregnated kenaf biochar: Adsorption characteristics and mechanism10.1007/s11270-022-05906-0 ↗
38. Enhanced removal of micropollutants from water using ZnCl2-modified Spirulina sp.-based biochar10.1007/s10811-023-03122-9 ↗
39. Ciprofloxacin adsorption onto Azolla filiculoides activated carbon from aqueous solutions10.5004/dwt.2021.26986 ↗
40. Fluoride removal by thermally treated egg shells with high adsorption capacity, low cost, and easy acquisition10.1007/s11356-021-13284-z ↗
41. Fluoride removal from water by adsorption—A review10.1016/j.cej.2011.05.028 ↗
42. Clay and clay minerals for fluoride removal from water: A state-of-the-art review10.1016/j.clay.2015.06.013 ↗
43. Enhanced fluoride removal from water by rare earth (La and Ce) modified alumina: Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanism10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.175 ↗
44. Kinetics and thermodynamics of cadmium ion removal by adsorption onto nano zerovalent iron particles10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.029 ↗
45. Evaluation of surfactant-modified bentonite for Acid Red 88 dye adsorption in batch mode: Kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies10.5004/dwt.2022.28812 ↗
46. Lee, J.I., Hong, S.H., Lee, C.G., and Park, S.J. (2020). Experimental and model study for fluoride removal by thermally activated sepiolite. Chemosphere, 241.10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125094 ↗
47. Zhang, N., Li, F., Hu, K., Wang, Z., Xue, H., Fan, B., Zhang, X., and Dong, H. (2023). Selective separation Al3+/Gd3+ by designed carboxylic acid-ionic liquid with low acid and alkali consumption. Sep. Purif. Technol., 318.10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123853 ↗
48. Yu, Y., Zhang, M., Lu, H., Huang, F., Zhang, Z., Qiu, W., Hu, B., Zheng, P., and Wang, D. (2024). Insights into the crucial role of pH to achieve the dual goals of efficient fluoride removal and resource recovery from the photovoltaic manufacturing wastewater. Chem. Eng. J., 498.10.1016/j.cej.2024.155391 ↗
49. Precipitate flotation of fluoride-containing wastewater from a semiconductor manufacturer10.1016/S0043-1354(99)00065-2 ↗
50. Yang, H., Choi, G.-R., Jeong, Y.J., Cho, I.S., Park, S.-J., and Lee, C.-G. (2024). Enhancing acetaminophen removal through persulfate activation with ZnCl2-SPI biochar: A study on reactive oxygen species contribution according to acetaminophen concentration. Chem. Eng. J., 496.10.1016/j.cej.2024.154065 ↗
51. Defluoridation of drinking water using adsorption processes10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.12.043 ↗
52. Wide pH range for fluoride removal from water by MHS-MgO/MgCO3 adsorbent: Kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanism studies10.1016/j.jcis.2015.01.049 ↗
53. Yang, R., Chen, J., Zhang, Z., and Wu, D. (2022). Performance and mechanism of lanthanum-modified zeolite as a highly efficient adsorbent for fluoride removal from water. Chemosphere, 307.10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136063 ↗
54. Conversion of organic waste to novel adsorbent for fluoride removal: Efficacy and mechanism of fluoride adsorption by calcined venerupis philippinarum shells10.1007/s11270-022-05757-9 ↗
55. Lee, J.-I., Jeong, Y., Lee, Y.-J., Lee, C.-G., and Park, S.-J. (2024). Harnessing Wood Bottom Ash for Efficient Arsenic Removal from Wastewater: Adsorption Mechanisms and Process Optimisation. Chemosphere, 364.10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143204 ↗
56. Physisorption of gases, with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution (IUPAC Technical Report)10.1515/pac-2014-1117 ↗
57. Preparation of CaF2 microspheres with nanopetals for water vapor adsorption10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00763 ↗
58. Adsorption and precipitation of fluoride on calcite nanoparticles: A spectroscopic study10.1016/j.seppur.2015.07.016 ↗
59. Removal of Fe (II) from groundwater via aqueous portlandite carbonation and calcite-solution interactions10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.077 ↗
60. Chu, J.-H., Kang, J.-K., Park, S.-J., and Lee, C.-G. (2020). Application of magnetic biochar derived from food waste in heterogeneous sono-Fenton-like process for removal of organic dyes from aqueous solution. J. Water Process Eng., 37.10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101455 ↗
61. Influence of surface structure of SiC nano-sized powder analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on basic powder characteristics10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.06.023 ↗
62. Handbook of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
63. Polyacrylic acid-functionalized graphene@ Ca(OH)2 nanocomposites for mural protection10.1021/acsomega.2c01364 ↗
64. A critical review of the estimation of the thermodynamic parameters on adsorption equilibria. Wrong use of equilibrium constant in the Van’t Hoof equation for calculation of thermodynamic parameters of adsorption10.1016/j.molliq.2018.10.048 ↗
65. Rapid and enhanced adsorptive mitigation of groundwater fluoride by Mg(OH)2 nanoflakes10.1007/s11356-022-20749-2 ↗