A study on Integrated Fluorosis Mitigation using Electrolytic Defluoridation System

Abstract

Water is essential for human existence, yet a huge number of people, have no access newlineto pure and safe drinking water globally. Recently, there has been escalating global newlineawareness aimed on tackling water quality issues particularly in underdeveloped and newlinedeveloping nations. Thus, the lack of access to clean water contradicts the most newlineessential of all rights, the right to life. Various pollutants contaminate our water newlinesources due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Drinking water containing high newlinefluoride content for longer time can result in mottling of teeth, softening of bones and newlineossification of tendons and ligaments. This results into dental and skeletal fluorosis. newlineThe desirable concentration of fluoride to be maintained in drinking water is 1 mg/L newlineand permissible limit is 1.5 mg/L as per IS 10500:2012. newlineIn the present study, firstly, the global scenario of the intensity and severity of excess newlinefluoride in drinking water is taken into consideration. The latest estimates suggest newlinethat, around 200 million people, from 25 nations all over the world, are prone to the newlinealarming fate of fluorosis. In India, fluorosis has turned out to be the most prevalent newlinegeogenic disease, affecting more than 66 million people including 6 million children newlineunder 14 years age. Secondly, the critical assessment of various available newlinetechnologies for the removal of fluoride reveals that, among various available newlinetechnologies, electrolytic defluoridation appears to be a promising alternative for the newlinetreatment and will go a long way towards providing safe drinking water in the newlinefluoride-affected areas of developing countries like India. newlineTo study and develop the electrolytic defluoridation process, a laboratory model was newlinefabricated utilizing 3 monopolar Aluminium electrodes connected with a DC supply. newlineThe initial fluoride concentrations in raw water ranging from 2 mg/l to 20 mg/l were newlinetested, by varying the applied current intensity, pH, flow rate and applied potential.