Research progress in the removal of fluoride ions from mine water by adsorption method

Fluoride ions are widely distributed in surface rivers and groundwater bodies in China, especially in the mining areas along the Yellow River in the western Yellow River basin that there is a widespread problem of excessive fluoride in the mine water, which poses a potential threat to the local ecological environment and human health. The status quo of fluoride pollution in China is mostly at a low concentration pollution level, which leads to it difficult to remove efficiently through conventional water treatment technologies. The adsorption method is considered to be an effective way to remove low concentration fluoride ions because of its high adsorption efficiency and convenient operation. The research status of fluoride removal by commonly used adsorption materials such as carbon based, minerals, metals and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) was reviewed and summarized before summarizing the influence of different factors on the fluoride removal efficiency and adsorption mechanism of these adsorption materials. Then the application effect and operation cost of adsorption method in mine water treatment were emphatically analyzed, and the development direction of adsorption method in the treatment of low concentration (<10 mg/L) and high water content fluorine-containing mine water was prospected. In general, there are still some deficiencies in the study of fluoride removal by adsorption. In terms of adsorption mechanism, it should be further investigated from three aspects which includes the characteristics of adsorption materials, the occurrence form of fluoride ions and the interaction mechanism between adsorption materials and fluoride ions. For the engineering application of adsorption method, the demand of engineering application should be regarded as the guidance. Based on the above discussion, the research and development direction of removing fluoride ions from mine water by adsorption method is proposed, which is to focus on the development of low cost and high efficiency environment-friendly modified adsorbents based on natural/waste (ore) and carbon-based, aluminum-based or other new polymer adsorption materials under the principle of clarifying local policies and water quality and quantity. In addition, it is necessary not to improve the selective adsorption performance of the modified adsorbent for fluoride ions, but also to ensure the stability, economy and safety of the adsorbent in the whole life cycle of preparation, processing, production and recycling, thereby improving its competitiveness of the adsorption method in the actual application of fluoride containing wastewater and enhancing the application potential of the adsorption method.