Defluoridation by Sustainable Utilization of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles-Enriched Waste Tea Residue

Fluoride overexposure in drinking water poses serious health risks. This study investigates the sorption ability of waste tea residue (CTR) and iron oxide nanoparticle-enriched tea residue (FeONP-TR) in fluoride removal from water at different initial fluoride concentrations, time intervals and pH ranges. The defluoridation ability of waste tea residue was enhanced effectively when FeONP-TR was synthesized from it and utilized for fluoride removal. To estimate the equilibrium parameters, batch experiments were conducted and the resulting data was analysed employing the linear Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models. Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherms were found to be the better-fit models towards the fluoride adsorption process by CTR and FeONP-TR. Utilization of waste (tea residue) proves to be a promising and sustainable option for water defluoridation.