Fluoride remediation by Staphylococcus lentus (KX941098) and Providencia vermicola (KX926492) beads in upward flow packed bed reactor

Present investigation provides an insight into fluoride uptake by immobilized beads of two fluoride-resistant bacterial species Providencia vermicola (KX926492) (PV) and Staphylococcus lentus (KX941068) (SL) from simulated waste water in packed bed column reactor. Experiments have been carried out to assess the effects of parameters like influent fluoride concentration, feed flow rate and bed height on fluoride removal. The column data were fitted to Adams-Bohart and Yoon-Nelson models to determine the influence on biosorption performance. Different influential parameters were studied such as fluoride concentration (15–25 mg L⁻¹), rate of feed flow (2, 4 and 6 mL min⁻¹) and height of bed (4, 6 and 8 cm). Optimum operating conditions were observed to be: concentration (conc) = 20 mg L⁻¹, influent flow rate = 2 mL min⁻¹ and bed height = 8 cm. A maximal fluoride uptake ability of 32.48 mg g⁻¹ has been achieved under these conditions. The experimental results of the breakthrough curves fit well with the Yoon-Nelson model. Therefore, immobilized beads of PV and SL could serve as potent remediating agents towards water defluoridation in large-scale operations.