Approaches to problems of fluoride polluted water in arid lands based on material science and engineering

Abstract

In arid areas, a water resource is one of the most serious environmental issues. For examples, in some part of northern China, many serious health diseases caused by ground water polluted with fluoride have been reported. We have developed new technologies based on material science for treatment of fluoride-polluted water. In this review, we reported some results of our studies about 1) a novel water treatment process using activated alumina, 2) a unique “biomimetic nano-surface reaction” of calcium phosphate and fluoride in water, and 3) material design for water treatment.