ESTIMATION AND COMPARISON OF DEFLOURIDATION OF FLOURIDATED GROUND WATER USING FOUR NATURAL ADSORBENTS: MULTANI MITTI, CHALK POWDER, ORANGE PEEL POWDER AND RAGI POWDER

This study highlights the global issue of uoride contamination in drinking water, affecting approximately 260 million people in 30 countries, with India facing signicant challenges as endemic uorosis impacts around one million individuals across 17 states. The elevated uoride levels are primarily attributed to uoride-bearing minerals in local rocks and soils. The World Health Organization recommends maintaining uoride concentrations near 1 mg/L to balance dental health benets while preventing uorosis. In response, various deuoridation methods—such as precipitation and adsorption—are implemented in India to adjust uoride levels to optimal ranges. Given the essential role of water in physiological processes for humans, animals, and plants, understanding the variable quality of surface and groundwater is crucial. This variability is inuenced by local geological factors and the presence of contaminants, necessitating effective management strategies for safe drinking water access.