Use of Fluorspar in Water Fluoridation
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 122, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper describes work aimed at investigating the physico-chemical factors influencing the fluorspar dissolution kinetics, with the objective of evaluating the feasibility of fluorspar as a source of water fluoridation. Experimental results indicated that under optimum conditions effluent fluoride concentrations well above 2 mg/L were obtained. However, fluoride concentrations can be reduced to below practical levels at temperatures less than 20°C and hardness greater than 100 mg/L as CaCO 3 . By treating fluorspar as a blend of CaF 2 and CaCO 3, the kinetic characteristics of fluorspar dissolution were accurately described by a steady-state mass-transfer model. Basic operating parameters for continuous fluoridation using a natural fluorspar-packed bed were investigated and the optimum conditions established. This study demonstrated that water fluoridation with natural mineral fluorspar can be more practical for small communities located in warm climates with soft-water sources.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 122 • Issue 2 • February 1996
Pages: 132 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Feb 1, 1996
Published in print: Feb 1996
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