FLUORIDES

V Bhat
Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, and foods.

Fluoride exists fairly abundantly in the earth’s crust and

can enter groundwater by natural processes.

the soil at the foot of mountains is particularly likely to be

high in fluoride from the weathering and leaching of
bedrock with a high fluoride content

It is also produced synthetically for use in drinking water,

toothpaste, mouthwashes and various chemical products.

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Water authorities add fluoride to the
municipal water supply.

Studies have shown that adding it in

areas where fluoride levels in the water
are low can reduce the prevalence of
tooth decay in the local population.
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Fast facts about fluoride
•Fluoride comes from fluroine, which is a common, natural, and
abundant element.
•Adding fluoride to the water supply reduces the incidence of
tooth decay.
•Fluoride protects teeth from decay by demineralization and
remineralization.
•Too much fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis or skeletal
fluorosis, which can damage bones and joints.

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It is also used in the following dental
products:
•toothpaste
•cements and fillings Non-dental sources of flouride include:
•gels and mouthwashes •drugs containing perfluorinated compounds
•varnishes •food and beverages made with water that
•some brands of floss contains fluoride
•fluoride supplements, recommended in •pesticides
areas where water is not fluoridated •waterproof and stain-resistant items

Excess fluoride exposure may come from:

•public water fluoridation
•high concentrations of fluoride in natural fresh water
•fluoridated mouthrinse or toothpaste
•untested bottled water
•inappropriate use of fluoride supplements
•some foods

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State CGWB Report

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A District CGWB Report

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Fluoride taints one in 10 drinking
water sources in Karnataka

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Fluoridation
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Fluoridation
• Addition of external fluoride to public supplies
• Optimum concentration of 1 mg/l
• Sodium Fluoride (NaF)
• Sodium Silico Fluoride (Na2SiF6 )
• Hydro-fluosilicic acid (H2SiF6 )
• NaF is most widely used

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Defluoridation
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Defluoridation
• Methods
• Adsorption by Activated Alumina (AA)
• Ion Exchange Adsorption method
• Nalagonda Techniques
• Reverse Osmosis Process

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1) Adsorption by Activated Alumina (AA)
• Prashanti Technique
• Water is percolated through the insoluble granular beds
• Bed materials are- Activated Alumina, Bone Char, Activated
Carbon, Activated Bauxite
• Adsorbs fluoride from percolating water
• Activated Alumina is excellent medium for removal of excess
fluorides
• This process is under slightly acidic conditions (5-7), lower
being more effective
• AA can be regenerated by backwashing with 1 % caustic
soda Solution (NaOH)
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2) Ion exchange Adsorption Method
• Uses a strong base anion exchange resin/ zeolite
• As water passes through bed of resin in pressurised vessel fluoride
gets adsorbed
• Arsenic and nitrate ions also get removed
• Regeneration by 5-10% NaCl solution
• A standby unit is essential
• Capacity of the plant- 500 l/h – 5000 l/h

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 3) Nalgonda Technique
• For treating groundwaters with excess fluorides
• Simpler and economical
• Removes colour, taste, odour, turbidity in addition
• Uses alumina salt/ Alum

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4) Reverse osmosis Process
• Water is passed through semi
permeable membrane
• Membrane blocks salts including
fluoride
• High cost, poor after maintenance
• High fluoride removal efficiency
without any chemicals

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Comparison

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 Now, it’s time to understand

Water
Conveyance
System
Continued…. 24