Enhanced fluoride removal from water by nanosized cerium oxides impregnated porous polystyrene anion exchanger

Efficient elimination of fluoride from wastewater is an urgent need for ensuring water safety. In the present study, a stable and reusable nanocomposite (NCO@PAE) was synthesized by impregnating nanosized cerium oxides (NCO) inside a porous polystyrene anion exchanger (PAE) host for efficient fluoride removal from wastewater. The newly fabricated NCO@PAE exhibited excellent resistance to acid and alkali environment, allowing it to be utilized in a wide pH range (2–12). Fluoride uptake onto NCO@PAE was a pH-dependent process, which could reach the maximum capacity at pH 3.0. Compared with its host PAE, NCO@PAE showed conspicuous adsorption affinity towards fluoride in the coexistence of other competing anions at high concentrations. Adsorption kinetics confirmed its high efficiency for achieving equilibrium within 120 min. Fixed-bed adsorption runs demonstrated that the effective processing capacity of NCO@PAE for synthetic fluoride-containing wastewater (initial fluoride 2.5 mg/L) was about ~330 BV (bed volume), while only 22 BV for the host PAE. The exhausted NCO@PAE could be effectively revived by a simple in-situ desorption method for long-term cycle operation without conspicuous capacity loss. All the results indicated that NCO@PAE is a reliable and promising adsorbent for water defluoridation. • A stable and reusable nanocomposite NCO@PAE was fabricated for fluoride removal. • Nanosized Ce oxide was embedded in a porous polystyrene host to acquire selectivity. • NCO@PAE could selectively capture fluoride in the coexistence of competing anions. • As-laden NCO@PAE could be effectively revived for cyclic utilization.