Soil adsorption defluoridation of drinking water for an Ethiopian rural community

Content of fluoride compounds in some typical Ethiopian water sources was analysed and several commonly available soils were characterized for their adsorption properties regarding the water defluoridation. Various soils were collected in different Ethiopian sites and the samples were analysed by X-ray diffractometry for their mineralogical composition. Batch experimental runs at room temperature were performed to evaluate the adsorption capacity of each soil sample as well as to deduce the of two different adsorption apparatuses. Considering the water consumption of a small rural community, the capacity of the adsorption unit was selected to assure a reduction of the fluoride concentration in drinking water to the limits recommended by the World Health Organization and to allow a suitable working time of the adsorption unit before the replacement of adsorbent would be necessary.