Calcium Pretreated Pinus Roxburghii Wood Biochar for Adsorptive Removal of Fluoride from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Fluorosis due to consuming an elevated amount of fluoride-containing groundwater is believed to be a serious public health-related issue. A calcium pretreated wood of Pinus roxburghii was converted into biochar and examined for fluoride uptake from an aqueous solution. Further characterization of biochar was performed using FT-IR and SEM EDAX analysis. Results suggested the involvement of different functional groups of biochar in the sorption process. Scanning microscopy and elemental analysis showed the porous structure of biochar with an appreciably high loading of fluoride ions. Sorption of fluoride occurred due to chemical interaction between functional groups that existed over the surface of biochar. Sorption was found to be spontaneous and exothermic. The prepared adsorbent holds good promises to be used as an agent for defluoridation.