Experimentation on bone char-based treatment for fluoride removal from drinking water in Senegal

In several areas of Senegal fluoride concentration in drinking water exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) guide value. A safe, efficient, simple and low cost defluoridation technique needs to be developed in order to prevent the occurrence of fluorosis. This paper describes a laboratory and pilot experimentation carried out using animal bone char as adsorbent material for fluoride removal. Possible influencing parameters, such as specific ions in Senegalese drinking water, were investigated and the best process conditions were defined for the application in Senegal.