| Abstract: | Moringa oleifera (MO) seed extract coupled with electrocoagulation (EC) was used to remove fluoride from water. Different MO extract volumes (5.0, 12.5, and 25.0 mL of MO extract per water liter) were coupled with EC, using aluminum electrodes at different current density values (J = 0.7, 2.0, and 3.3 mA/cm2) and different electrode separations (1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 cm), tested in batch and recirculation experiments. Control experiments using MO extract and EC alone achieved 5% and 54% water defluoridation, respectively. Best experimental batch conditions were achieved using 12.5 mL of MO extract followed by EC (3.3 mA/cm2) with a 1.0 cm electrode separation, producing >90% fluoride removal. Recirculation experiments with the EC reactor were performed with DI water and tap water using 1.0 cm electrode separation, 12.5 mL of MO extract and different current densities. More than 90% fluoride removal was achieved with the EC/MO process, using 3.3 mA/cm2, in both DI and tap water after 30 and 60 min, respectively. An energy consumption index (ECI) was developed, which showed that 1.51 and 0.67 W/h/mg were achieved for batch experiments of EC alone and EC/MO extract, respectively. For EC/MO extract, recirculation experiments with tap and DI water resulted in 0.35 and 0.22 W/h/mg, respectively. A cost analysis showed that $0.18 will be needed to treat one cubic meter of water. |
