Review Article
Fluoride Sorption Properties of Plant Biomass: Unveiling Inconsistency in the Past Three Decades
Hezron Timothy Mwakabona*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 2, April 2025
Pages:
36-45
Received:
8 February 2025
Accepted:
3 March 2025
Published:
18 March 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajche.20251302.11
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Abstract: The high cost of advanced technology for defluoridation has, since the late 20th century, triggered the search for low-cost water defluoridation methods. One such effort involves the use of plant biomass materials. Over the past thirty years, our understanding of fluoride sorption mechanisms of non-activated plant biomass has not significantly advanced, partly due to inconsistencies and incompleteness of defluoridation studies. This research aimed at investigating how inconsistencies and incomplete selections of study parameters have impacted our understanding of key defluoridation properties of non-activated plant biomass materials, specifically fluoride sorption mechanisms. The study reviewed 37 studies that explored the application of non-activated plant biomass in water defluoridation, comparing methods and findings while identifying reasons for deficits. Findings revealed significant inconsistencies and incompleteness in the selection of study parameters, leading to unsubstantiated proposals for plausible sorption mechanisms. This has deprived the research community of a thorough understanding despite thirty years of studies in the field. This study, therefore, concludes that selection study parameters is a crucial component in enhancing our understanding of fluoride sorption properties of plant biomass materials. For an in-depth understanding of fluoride sorption mechanisms, this study identified three crucial parameters that must be included in future studies: the effect of pH variation, the point of zero charge of the adsorbent, and FT-IR spectral shifts.
Abstract: The high cost of advanced technology for defluoridation has, since the late 20th century, triggered the search for low-cost water defluoridation methods. One such effort involves the use of plant biomass materials. Over the past thirty years, our understanding of fluoride sorption mechanisms of non-activated plant biomass has not significantly adva...
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