A research team led by Prof. Lingtao Kong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed an innovative material for efficiently removing fluoride ions from water.
Scientists have developed a new nanocomposite material promising to efficiently remove fluoride from drinking water. This research, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, could be a significant advancement in addressing areas with high fluoride levels in groundwater.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can be beneficial for dental health. However, excessive fluoride intake can lead to various health problems, including dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. Many regions worldwide struggle with high fluoride levels in their groundwater, posing a public health concern.
The newly developed material is called La-Mg LDH/Ti3C2TX. It combines layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with titanium carbide (Ti3C2TX). This innovative material addresses a key challenge with traditional LDHs used for fluoride removal. While LDHs are effective, they tend to clump together, reducing their ability to capture fluoride ions. The Ti3C2TX component in La-Mg LDH/Ti3C2TX prevents clumping and significantly increases the surface area of the material. This increased surface area allows the material to capture more fluoride ions.
La-Mg LDH/Ti3C2TX also utilizes a “nanoconfinement effect.” The material’s structure creates tiny spaces that effectively trap fluoride ions within. Studies have shown that the La-Mg LDH/Ti3C2TX material can remove over 139 milligrams of fluoride per gram of material, outperforming many existing methods. Additionally, the material can be reused multiple times without losing its effectiveness. The adsorption process is primarily driven by electrostatic interactions and anion exchange, making it an efficient method for fluoride removal.
“Our study could lead to more effective methods for water purification,” said Dr. Junyong He.
This research offers a potentially more effective way to remove fluoride from drinking water, particularly in areas with high fluoride levels in groundwater. The ability to fabricate the La-Mg LDH/Ti3C2TX material into membranes allows for easier water treatment applications. Further research can optimize this technology for large-scale water treatment processes, potentially improving public health in affected regions.
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