Aluminum electrocoagulation: defluoridation technology for Andhra Pradesh, India

This paper begins with an overview of the origin, magnitude, geographical distribution, and health consequences of the geogenic fluoride contamination problem around the world and particularly in Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Various current defluoridation technologies are discussed and electrolytic defluoridation (EDF), developed by the Indian National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, is proposed as a potential sustainable solution for groundwater treatment in South India. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research plans to test if EDF meets the requirements to make it an effective solution for Nalgonda: it is culturally acceptable, technically feasible and robust in a rural setting, and operation and maintenance require minimal capital expenditure and skilled labor.