Impact on Defluoridation from Drinking Water

Impact on Defluoridation from Drinking Water Using Plant Parts

Alka Kumari (P.G. Dept. of Botany,TM Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur) and

Prof. L.C.Saha (Pro.Vice Chancellor, VKS University, Ara)

ABSTRACTS

Drinking water is often the main source of fluoride intake by humans. Some plants parts are using for defluoridation from drinking water are as following. Such as leaves and seeds of Tulsi, leaves of Neem, Tamarind seed powder, Amla fruit and seed powder. The physico-chemical analysis showed that of contaminated of fluoride concentration & other parameters in different drinking water samples.

INTRODUCTION

In India hardly 12% of the population get clean drinking water while rest of the population quench their thirst from such water which serve as the inocula of large number of water borne diseases. The magnitude and dimension of drinking water contamination have assumed the sky rocketting condition and pose a grave danger and serious threat to the humanity. Out of different chemical factors, the higher concentration of fluoride in drinking water is one of the major causes of human ailments. According to World Health Organization, 1984 the maximum acceptable fluoride concentration in drinking water should be 0.5mg/l to1.5mg/l.Major defluoridation devices and methods have been referred with advantages and limitations. The adsorption process is the cheapest, simplest, easily available and accessible process for defluoridation particularly for developing countries like India. Recently considerable attention has been paid to develop better and suitable adsorbents for defluoridation purposes. The removal of fluoride from potable water assumes significance and has been given priority by chemists, environmentalists and Public health and engineers.

Plant materials are reported to accumulate fluoride and hence their application as defluoridation agents has been suggested. Examples of such biosorbents are leaves and seeds of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), fruits and seeds of Amla (Emblica officinalis), leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica).

The works related to use of plant parts as defluoridation agents are fragmentary and no systematic attempt has been done in different parts of the world. Due to higher fluoride concentration in the drinking water, fluorosis is caused.

In different parts of Bhagalpur especially Jagdispur this disease has attained alarming condition. Both dental and skeletal fluorosis is very common in the inhabitants of Kolakhurd (Jagdispur). An attempt will be made to work on practicable solution of defluoridation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The leaves and seeds of Tulsi plant can detoxify water with high fluoride content, and make it safe for human consumption. The quality of the treated water will be on par with the norms prescribed for fluoride content by the bureau of Indian standards Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) has natural bio-absorbent properties, that is the leaves and seeds of this Indian herb serve as a natural magnet to absorb (attach) fluoride molecules in the water. All one has to do is dip the powder of leaves and seeds of the Tulsi in a glass of water for 8 hours. Such as taken 250 ml sample water and 200 mg Tulsi seed powder and mixed well. After 8 hours take reading by Spectro quant meter find that initial fluoride concentration of above 20 ppm, it was removed and observed that 0.53 ppm. Like as a dose of 250 mg of dried Tulsi leaves for a sample water of 250 ml for a contact period of 8 hours removal efficiency 0.88 ppm.

For example of Neem leaves, with initial fluoride concentration of sample water has above 20 ppm, it was observed that maximum fluoride can be removed at a dose of 300 mg of Neem leaves powder for a sample of 250 ml for a contact period of 8 hours had a removal efficiency 0.41 ppm.

Besides these some data of examples of such biosorbents (in dried powder) are as below:-

A.) AMLA SEED:- (Initial reading of fluoride in sample water is above 20 ppm)
Sr. no.	Amount of the water sample	Amount of the material used	Final reading of fluoride in several date
2.2.12	2.3.12	2.4.12	2.5.12	2.6.12
	100ml	100mg	0.84	0.84	0.85	0.84	0.85
	100ml	90mg	1.03	1.03	1.03	1.04	1.04

B.)AMLA FRUIT:- (Initial reading of fluoride in sample water is above 20 ppm)
Sr. no.	Amount of the water sample	Amount of the materials used	Final reading of fluoride in several date
2.2.12	2.3.12	2.4.12	2.5.12	2.6.12
1)	50 ml	100 mg	1.18	1.19	1.18	1.18	1.19
2)	100 ml	90 mg	1.38	1.38	1.37	1.36	1.38

C) TULSI LEAF POWDER:- (Initial reading of fluoride in sample water is above 20 ppm)
Sr. no	Amount of the water sample	Amount of the materials used	Final reading of fluoride in several date
2.2.12	2.3.12	2.4.12	2.5.12	2.6.12
1)	250 ml	250 mg	0.88	0.89	0.88	0.88	0.89
2)	250 ml	300 mg	1.59	1.59	1.59	1.59	1.58
D) TULSI SEED :- (Initial reading of fluoride in sample water is above 20 ppm)
Sr. no	Amount of the water sample	Amount of the materials used	Final reading of fluoride in several date
2.2.12	2.3.12	2.4.12	2.5.12	2.6.12
1)	250 ml	200 mg	0.53	0.53	0.53	0.53	0.54
2)	250 ml	300 mg	1.67	1.67	1.68	1.67	1.66

E) NEEM LEAF ;- (Initial reading of fluoride in sample water is above 20 ppm)
Sr. no	Amount of the water sample	Amount of the materials used	Final reading of fluoride in several date
2.2.12	2.3.12	2.4.12	2.5.12	2.6.12
1)	250 ml	300 mg	0.41	0.41	0.41	0.41	0.43
2)	250 ml	400 mg	0.99	0.98	0.99	1.02	1.00

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This technique is cost effective, environment friendly and easy to understand and can be adopted in rural as well as urban areas throughout the years. Many people of Kolakhurd (Jagdispur) are affected by the high fluoride content in water. The ground water fluoride content in the district is between 0.4 ppm to 28 ppm.

REFERENCES

1) WHO 1984 Fluorine and Fluorides, Environmental Health Criteria no.36.World Health Organization, Geneva.

2) Studies on defluoridation of water by Tamarindus seeds, an unconventional biosorbent. M. Murugan and E. Subramanian Journals of water and health 2006 453-461

3) APHA -AWWA-WPCB 1998 Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20^th edition Washington D.C.