Biosorption of Fluoride from Aqueous Solution on Citrus limonium

This communication presents results pertaining to the adsorptive studies carried out on fluoride removal onto Citrus limonium biosorbent. Batch sorption studies were performed and the results revealed that biosorbent demonstrated ability to adsorb the fluoride. Influence of varying the conditions for removal of fluoride, such as the fluoride concentration, the dosage of adsorbent, the size of adsorbent, the concentration of metal solution studies were investigated. The rate of fluoride adsorption by Citrus limonium was very rapid, reaching almost 90% of the maximum adsorption capacity within 45 min of contact time and the adsorption does not change significantly with further increase in contact time. It was observed that the percentage adsorption of the metals decreases with increase in the initial metal ion concentration. It reveals that the effect of different adsorbent particle sizes on the adsorption of fluoride is significant. Experimental data showed good fit with the Langmuir's adsorption isotherm model. Maximum fluoride sorption was observed at 300C operating temperature.