Adsorption kinetics of fluoride on iron(III)-zirconium(IV) hybrid oxide

Fluoride occurs in some drinking water sources at levels that are hazardous to health. Tests were conducted to assess the ability of a mineral-based adsorbent to take-up fluoride ion. Consequently, in search of novel adsorbent media, crystalline and hydrous iron(III)-zirconium(IV) hybrid oxide (IZHO) was synthesized, and tested to determine its capacity and kinetics for fluoride adsorption. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum of IZHO indicated the presence of Fe–O–Zr linkage which showed hybrid nature of the synthetic oxide. The optimum pH range for fluoride adsorption was ranged between 4.0 and 7.0. The analyses of the isotherm equilibrium data using the Langmuir and the Redlich–Peterson model equations by linear and non-linear methods showed that the data fitted better with latter model than the former. Thermodynamic analysis showed spontaneous nature of fluoride adsorption, and that took place with the increase of entropy. The kinetic data obtained for fluoride adsorption on IZHO at pH 6.8 (±0.1) and room temperature (303±2 K) described both the pseudo-first order and the reversible first-order equations equally well (r ²= ∼0.98–0.99), and better than pseudo second order equation (r ²= ∼0.96–0.98) for higher concentrations (12.5 and 25.0 mg/dm³) of fluoride. The kinetics of fluoride adsorption on the mixed oxide took place with boundary layer diffusion. External mass transport with intra-particle diffusion phenomena governed the rate limiting process, which has been confirmed from the Boyd poor non-linear kinetic plots.