Studies on a Mg-Al-Zn Alloy as an Anode for the Removal of Fluoride from Drinking Water in an Electrocoagulation Process

The present study provides an electrochemical coagulation process for the removal of fluoride from drinking water using a Mg-Al-Zn alloy, magnesium, aluminum and mild steel as anodes and stainless steel as cathode. Various parameters which may affect the removal efficiency of fluoride from water, such as pH, concentration of fluoride, current density, temperature and co-existing ions were studied. Electrochemical coagulation was carried out for 30 min at an initial fluoride concentration of 5.0 mg/ L and this was reduced to 0.2 mg/L. A maximum removal efficiency of 96% was achieved with a magnesium alloy as anode and stainless steel as cathode at a current density of 0.2 A/dm2 and a pH of 7.0