Korir_H_-_189.pdf (295.73 kB)
Download fileThe development of bone char-based filters for the removal of flouride from drinking water
conference contribution
posted on 2018-02-12, 15:11 authored by Hillary Korir, K. Mueller, L. Korir, J Kubai, E. Wanja, N. Wanjiku, J. Waweru, Michael J. Mattle, Lars Osterwalder, C. Annette JohnsonMillions of people rely on drinking water that contains excess fluoride. Only few fluoride removal
techniques have been implemented on a wider scale in low and middle income
countries. One of these
methods, bone char filtration, is highly efficient. However, its lifespan is rather limited. This paper
presents first laboratory results and field testing of a new fluoride removal technology, based on a
combination of bone char and calcium-phosphate
pellets. These chemicals are slowly released to the
water for fluoride precipitation. Although this method, commonly referred to as contact precipitation is
known, the development of such pellets is new. Fixed-bed
laboratory experiments show that this mixture
of materials can increase filter uptake capacity by a factor of 3 and more. However, to reduce the
phosphate concentration in the treated water, the design of full-scale
community filters for field testing
has to be slightly modified.
History
School
- Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Research Unit
- Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC)