ACE 

ENGINEERING COLLEGE
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Ankushapur(v),Ghatkesar(M),Medchal(Dist)-501301

Department of Civil Engineering

CE704PC:SEMINAR
DEFLUORIDATION OF GROUNDWATER USING
CORNCOB AND LECA BALLS

S.JAYANTH
20AG5A0123
IV YEAR
 INTRODUCTION

• Water is one of the most important for all forms of life.

• Safe pure water is primary need for every living being.
• Water may get contaminated due to industrial efflluents.One such effluent is
fluoride. When the fluoride ion exceeds the permissible limit it causes dental
fluorosis and then skeletal fluorosis.
• WHO recommends the maximum limit of fluoride as 1.5 mg/l.
 .

• Defluoridation is defined as the downward adjustment of level of fluoride in drinking

water to the optimum level.
They are various technics for defluoridation of groundwater. They are
1. Precipitation technique
2. Adsorption technique
3. Ion exchange
4. Miscellaneous
• Most of the adsorbent used for removal of fluoride from drinking water is activated
carbons. It is an expensive material, and so the use of alternative, which is a cheaper
adsorbent, is required.
ADSORPTION TECHNIQUE OF DEFLUORIDATION
• The technique function on the adsorption of fluoride ions onto the surface of an
active agent.
• Activated alumina, activated carbon and bone char were among the highly tested
adsorbing agents.
• Application of domestic deflouridation plant, based on activated alumina, was
launched by UNICEF in rural India.
• The main disadvantages with activated alumina are adsorption of fluoride is
possible only at specific pH range.
• Frequent activation of alumina is needed, which make the technique expensive.
 PRECIPITATION TECHNIQUE FOR
DEFLUORIDATION

• Precipitation methods are based on the addition of chemicals i.e coagulants and
coagulant aids.
• Fluoride removal is accomplished with separation of solids from liquid.
• Aluminium salts, lime, poly, aluminium chloride, Poly Aluminium Hydroxy
sulphate are some of the frequently used materials in defluoridation by
precipitation technique.
 FLUORIDE DEPOSITION IN TAMILNADU
• Tamil Nadu is one of the most affected state with high fluoride contamination in
drinking water.
• The water in Tamilnadu contains upto 1.0 to 48mg/l as this is against the
permissible limit of World Health Organization i.e 1.5mg/l
• The cities like Salem, Ariyalur, Srivilliputhur, Trichengode, Namakkal and
Dindigul are motky affected by Dental and Skeleton Fluorosis.
• In this study, they have collected groundwater sample from 4 different locations
in Tamilnadu and defluoridated them using a proposed technique which uses
CORNCOB and LECA BALLS as adsorbents.
District affected by Fluoride in TamilNadu
 HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXCESS FLUORIDE

• Fluoride is a direct cellular poison, which binds calcium and interferes with the
activity of proteolytic enzymes.
• Enamel fluorosis develops in children during the period of tooth development.
• Skeletal fluorosis - there is an elevated risk of skeletal effects at fluoride intakes if
it increased above 6 mg/day.
• The excess consumption of fluoride ions in drinking water can causes dental
fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, bone damage, osteoporosis muscular damage, Joint
related problems.
 FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER AND
HEALTH EFFECTS
Fluoride content in mg/L Corresponding health effects on human health

< 0.5 Dental caries

0.5 – 1.0 Safe limit

1.0 – 3.0 Dental fluorosis

3.0 – 4.0 Stiff and brittle joints

>4.0 Deformities in knees

 Collection of Bore Well Samples

• Totally 4 samples were taken from the cities of Tamilnadu dharmapuri, theni,
dindigul and virudhunagar.
• They are carried out in a Pre cleaned and sterilized polyethylene bottle of one
liter capacity.
• Preserved at 4 ͦC.
 Fluoride Presence before Treatment

Acceptable Result
Limit Dharmpuri Theni Dindigul Virudhunagar

Fluoride 1.0 1.0 1.2 0.8 1.5

as F mg/L

• As per IS 3025 (Part 60) the fluoride content in the water is Acceptable for
1.0mg/l.
• According to WHO 1984 and Indian standard drinking water specification
1991 the maximum permissible limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5mg/l
and highest desirable limit is 1.0mg/l.
 Materials

CORNCOBS:
• Corncob was collected from the local agricultural field in sithurajapuram,
sivakasi.
• Properties of corncob are:
o They are Absorbent and abrasive properties.
o It is a durable and renewable resource and 100% environment friendly.
o They have high heat value.
o The chaff and pith provide absorbency while the woody ring has major abrasive
properties.
Corncob pieces Corncob ash
 Advantages of Corncob

• Simple and efficent

• Cost effective
• Eco-friendly and locally available
• Porous and reusable
LECA BALLS:
• Lightweight expanded clay aggregate a light weight aggregate made by heating
1200ͦC in a rotary kiln.
• Properties of leca balls are:
 cleaner than bark-odorless with no mold or mildew.
 Excellent capillary properties.
 Low salt content
 no breakdown or decay
 no breakdown or decay
 Filter Frame

• They have prepared a serial filtration frame such a way

that it can adopt layers of different filter media in a
single portable laboratory setup.
• In filters it is filled with Corncob powder, Corncob
charcoal, Corncob pieces and LECA balls in as layers
from top to bottom.
• Each layer is provided with filter paper also called as
ash-free filter paper for better filtration.
 Fluoride Presence after treatment

Acceptable Result
Limit
- Theni - Virudhunagar

Fluoride 1.0 -
0.2 -
0.4
as F mg/L

• Theni - 83.33% removal efficiency

• Virudhunagar - 73.33% removal efficiency
• As per IS 3025 (Part 60) the fluoride content in the water is Acceptable for
1.0mg/l.
• According to WHO 1984 and Indian standard drinking water specification 1991
the maximum permissible limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5mg/l and
highest desirable limit is 1.0mg/l.
 RESULT
• Initially 4 samples are tested
• According to results obtained 2 samples filtered through the setup.
• Theni - 83.33% removal efficiency
• Virudhunagar - 73.33% removal efficiency
 CONCLUSION

• Great difference in fluoride level in samples before and after treatment.

• Green technique for defluoridation.
• Very cost effective and green methodology for defluoridating the drinking water
and it is applicable for large scale treatment too.
• Mixing of chemicals for treatment is totally avoided.
THANK YOU