title: Sorption kinetics of fluoride in drinking water by bone charcoal columns.
abstract: The problem of fluoride kinetics in a simple defluoridation installation based on bone char is considered. A simple model was developed to relate fluoride sorption as a function of 'time' to maximum bone char capacity, flow rate and influent concentration. The model fitted the data well. The capacity of bone char was found to be between 1.8 and 2.2 mg of fluoride per 1 g of bone char. The rate of fluoride uptake was rapid and slow flow rates would only be used to enhance utilization of the fluoride binding capacity. According to our model, filtrate flow rates that are about 3.6 l/h would be required for optimal fluoride uptake by bone char.
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Medical Research Centre, Nairobi.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mwaniki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagelkerke
mesh_terms: D000351:Africa, Eastern; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002606:Charcoal; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016060:Sorption Detoxification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002606:Charcoal; D005459:Fluorides; D002118:Calcium