This investigation reports the synthesis of a new adsorbent material (ZrPA), from Zr(IV) and propanolamine (PA), synthesized by sol-gel technique at room temperature following the green chemistry principle. The suitability of ZrPA as a potential adsorbent is assessed for the removal of fluoride following the batch mode of operation. The isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics of fluoride adsorption on ZrPA have been studied at various experimental conditions (initial fluoride concentration, adsorption time, adsorbent dose, and temperature). The characteristic of the adsorbent, before and after fluoride adsorption, was examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) techniques. Further measurement of surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter using N 2 intrusion automated gas sorption system shows the microporous nature of the prepared material. Adsorption of fluoride was found to be strongly affected by pH. Mathematically, pseudosecond-order kinetic model was found to best describe the reaction rate, which was consistent with the actual measurement. Applications of Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models for the adsorption process were evaluated, and the data were also compared for six different error functions, that is, the sum of the squares of errors (SSE), sum of the absolute errors (SAE), the average relative error (ARE), the hybrid fractional error function (HYBRID), the Marquardt's percent standard deviation (MPSD), and regression coefficient (R 2 ), to test the adequacy and accuracy of the model equations. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy, entropy, and free energy were calculated using van't Hoff equations, which shows that fluoride adsorption on ZrPA indicates the spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption. The reusability of the ZrPA adsorbent material was tested up to 10 consecutive cycles for a sustainable commercial application purpose. Quantitative desorption of fluoride from ZrPA was found to be more than 95% at pH 12. To test the efficacy, the performance of the adsorbent material was studied with water samples collected from a fluorosis endemic region.

The present investigation reports the assessment of hydrochemical/geochemical processes controlling the concentration of fluoride in groundwater of a village in India (Boden block, Orissa). Boden block is one of the severely affected fluoride-contaminated areas in the state of Orissa (India). The sampling and subsequent analysis of water samples of the study area was carried out following standard prescribed methods. The results of the analysis indicate that 36.60% groundwater F(-) concentration exceeds the limit prescribed by the World Health Organization for drinking water. The rock interaction with groundwater containing high concentration of HCO(3)(-) and Na(+) at a higher pH value of the medium could be one of the important reasons for the release of F(-) from the aquatic matrix into groundwater. Geochemical classification of groundwater based on Chadha rectangular diagram shows that most of the groundwater samples having fluoride concentration more than 1.5 mg L(-1) belongs to the Na-K-HCO(3) type. The saturation index values evaluated for the groundwater of the study area indicated that it is oversaturated with respect to calcite, whereas the same is undersaturated with respect to fluorite content. The deficiency of calcium ion concentration in the groundwater from calcite precipitation favors fluorite dissolution leading to excess of fluoride concentration. The risk index was calculated as a function of fluoride level in drinking water and morbidity of fluorosis categorizes high risk for villages of Amera and Karlakote panchayat of Boden block.

Water scarcity is serious problem throughout the world for both urban & rural community. As the world population increases, the demand increases for quality drinking water. Urbanization, industrial development & increase in agricultural field & production has resulted in overexploitation of groundwater & surface water resources and resultant deterioration in water quality. The conventional water sources namely well, river and reservoirs, etc. are inadequate to fulfill water demand due to unbalanced rainfall. . Surface andgroundwater resources are being utilized faster than they can be recharged. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is an option that has been adopted in many areas of the world where conventional water supply systems have failed to meet people’s needs.It is a technique that has been used since antiquity. It is an environmentally sound solution to address issues brought forth by large projects utilizing centralized water management approaches. Water harvesting is the activity of direct collection of rainwater, which can be stored for direct use or can be recharged into the groundwater. Water harvesting is the collection of runoff for productive purposes. According to Kim et al. (2005), rainwater harvesting may be one of the best methods available to recovering the natural hydrologic cycle and enabling urban development to become sustainable. The harvesting of rainwater has the potential to assist in alleviating pressures on current water supplies and storm water drainage systems. Rainwater collection has the potential to impact many people in the world. As water harvesting is an ancient tradition and has been used for millennia in most dry lands of the world, many different techniques have been developed the aim of the present study is to use rainwater andthus taking close to the concept of nature conservation. In this study, the rain water harvesting (RWH) system is analyzed as an alternative source of water in Gwalior Town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India and the results were elated. By our calculation we have come to the conclusion that 108 days water can be stored for the entire city by the means of rain water harvesting method and that too only if we assume that only 70% of the water is being stored and remaining 30% of the water is getting wasted in the form of runoff. Even though, after this we are able to get 108 days of water for the entire city.