Removing Fluoride from Water

Question

I have a customer that has about 1500 customers and has a fluoride level of 4.3 ppm system average.
The maximum contaminant level goal, as an adequate margin of safety for drinking water, determined by EPA is 4.0 ppm so the level of fluoride in our case needs to be lowered.
How can I remove fluoride from a distribution system or reduce the fluoride levels?

James Gusek · Answer

These two references might be helpful.  You'd create the mineral Fluorite .
Turner Brett D, P Binning, and SLS Stipp (2005). Fluoride Removal by Calcite: Evidence for Fluorite Precipitation and Surface Adsorption. Environ Sci Technol 2005, 39, 9561-9568.
Turner Brett D, PJ Binning, and SW Sloan (2008). A calcite permeable reactive barrier for the remediation of Fluoride from spent potliner (SPL) contaminated groundwater. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 95 (2008) 110–120.
Good luck.  J. Gusek

Guyteau Bayard · Answer

In addition to these effective suggestions already proposed, one could also add the precipitation of the F ions via the cryolite, this solution supposes the addition of a little sodium chloride and aluminum. The presence in the medium of the ions F-Al 3 + and Na + will give AlF63- + 3 Na + Na3AlF6 whose solubility is insignificant. The pH may be corrected after.

Anthony Reid Harvey · Answer

You might look in to the use of bone char.

Prem Baboo · Answer

Three of the simplest methods of doing for de fluoridation of water._
1.    Reverse Osmosis,
2.     Distillation and
3.    Activated Alumina Defluoridation.
 
The first two methods are excellent for water purification in general though one must add supplements to distilled water, due to it’s lack of minerals it is potentially unsafe to drink in large quantities. A fourth manner is by use of Bone Char Carbon which is 90% effective; this method is best used in tandem with other purification techniques.
Bone Char Carbon
“Bone char is a granular material produced by charring animal bones: the bones are heated to high temperatures (in the range of 400 to 500 °C) in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere to control the quality of the product as related to its adsorption capacity for applications such as defluoridation of water and removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.”

Alfred Lipshultz · Answer

Good Afternoon Mr. Smith;
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Vann Raley · Answer

Ion exchange (strong base anion) can remove F but it is not very selective (even supposedly selective IX media for F is not very selective in the presence of competing anions) and F is on the low end of the affinity line.  Aluminum Oxide media may work depending on the balance of the water chemistry.  With the level of reduction you need either might be an alternative depending on the flow rate and usage.  Another option is RO.  With the level of reduction you need you would not need to treat the entire flow just a portion to lower you overall blended average below the limits (maybe 10 to 20% for safety).  This would result in a smaller RO that otherwise would apply for the flow rate and usage.

Charlotte Roehm · Answer

Hello,
The most common methods (with a varying price range) include reverse osmosis, deionizers ( ion-exchange resins), and activated alumina.

Robert Fadem · Answer

Hi Brandon, I specialize in Fluoride removal and you do have options.  To start you need to get a full water analysis with pH, Anions, Cations, Metals, and general chemistry.  With that the most efficient and cost effective process can be created.  The MCL's for Fluoride now are .7 generally not 4 ppm, 4 ppm causes damage and tooth discoloration.  Generally from 100 to about 7 ppm removal is really easy, below 7ppm has restrictions, the lower you get the harder it is to remove.  Feel free to send me your water chemistry.  Bob

Joseph Cotruvo · Answer

The US (health based)  MCL is 4 mg/L and the secondary (aesthetics) SMCL is 2 mg/L. The recommended value for fluoride addition is 0.7 mg/L. The WHO recommended GV is 1.5 mg/L.  Water consumption patterns affect the dental effects so climate in the area is a factor. It is usual in high fluoride small communities to give bottled water to children while their teeth are in the formative stage. Activated alumina works well for water treatment. Anion exchange resins also work but they can be sources of nitrosamines.

Hill Kemp · Answer

You don't mention your local climate. If you are desert or semi-desert, our solar desalination process produces commodity distilled water. By processing a small portion of your water the blend could reach your goal using 99% solar energy, byproduct dry salt cake and more than 40 liters/square meter of collector/day.

Removing Fluoride from Water

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