arXiv:2507.21116v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: Excessive fluoride intake can lead to dental and skeletal fluorosis, among other health issues. Naturally occurring fluoride and industrial runoff can result in concentrations far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended limits in water supplies. In this study, we derive a model incorporating the dominant mechanisms governing fluoride removal from drinking water using the two adsorbents mineral-rich carbon (MRC) and chemically treated mineral-rich carbon (TMRC). Using both new and previously published experimental data, we validate the model for MRC, TMRC, and their mixture, using both batch and column data. Despite the filters containing approximately 40:1 MRC:TMRC ratio by mass, we find that TMRC dominates fluoride removal, while MRC contributes at early and late times. The full column model, which uses parameters from isotherm batch studies, achieves excellent agreement with experimental breakthrough data across varying inlet concentrations and flow rates (R$^2>0.991$, SSE$ 0.983$, SSE $