“The downward adjustment of the fluoride ion concentration in
a public water supply in such a way that the concentration of
the fluoride ion in the water may be consistently maintained
at one part per million (ppm) by weight to prevent dental
caries with minimum possibility of causing dental fluorosis”.
Acc. to Brian A. Burt and Steven A. Eklund . Dentistry, Dental Practice and the Community. Philadelphia Publisher.
Sixth Edition. 119-124.
3
Adsorption Methods
Ion exchange Methods
Precipitation Methods
Miscellaneous Methods
4
DISADVANTAGES
Its efficiency is reduced in presence of other ions like sulphate,
carbonate, phosphate and alkalinity.
Regeneration of resin is a problem because it leads to fluoride
rich waste, which has to be treated separately before final
disposal.
The technique is expensive because of the cost of resin.
5
NALGONDA TECHNIQUE
The first community defluoridation plant constructed in the
district of Nalgonda in A.P., in the town of Kathri.
The technology was developed by the National environmental
engineering research institute (NEERI), Nagpur in 1961.
Piddennavar R, Krishnappa P. Review on Defluoridation techniques of water. Int J Eng Sci 2013;2:86-94
TECHNIQUE
Addition of aluminium salts, slaked lime and bleaching
powder followed by :-
RAPID MIXING
FLOCCULATION
SEDIMENTATION
FILTRATION 7
MECHANISM OF NALGONDA TECHNIQUE
Rapid mix :- Provides mixing of chemicals.
Flocculation :- Gentle agitation - combination of poly hydroxy
aluminum complexation with fluoride & their adsorption on
polymeric aluminum hydroxides (flocs) - turbidity, color, odour
removed; bacterial load reduces
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Sedimentation:- Permits settling of flocs loaded with
fluorides & other impurities.
Filtration:- Rapid gravity sand filters.
Disinfection:- Rechlorinated with bleaching powder before
distribution.
10
Aluminum salts may be aluminum sulphate or chloride or
combination of two.
Selection of aluminum sulphate or chloride depends on the
sulphate or chloride content of raw water to avoid exceeding
permissible limit.
Dose of lime 1/20th dose of aluminum salts.
Lime facilitates dense flocs for rapid settling.
Bleaching powder 3mg/L for disinfection.
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APPLICABILITY OF NALGONDA TECHNIQUE
Absence of alternate low fluoride source for drinking water.
Total dissolved solids below 1500mg/L
Hardness below 600mg/L
Raw water fluoride 1.5 – 20 mg/L.
12
MERITS OF NALGONDA TECHNIQUE
It can be used at domestic and community levels.
The chemicals are the same as those used in municipal/urban
water supply schemes.
It is cost effective.
There is considerable flexibility in design considerations,
therefore location specific alterations are possible.
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No regeneration of media required.
Simplicity of design, construction, operation and maintenance.
Local skills can be readily employed.
Little wastage of water and least disposal problems.
No energy except muscle power for domestic equipment.
14
DRAWBACKS
If the dose of alum is not adhered, there is a possibility of
excess aluminium contaminating water.
The maximum concentration of aluminium permitted is 0.03mg
to 0.2mg/L of water according to BIS, as an excess is suspected
to cause Alzheimer’s disease.
15
MODIFICATIONS FOR NALGONDA TECHNIQUE
1. Poly Aluminium Chloride
2. Poly Aluminium Hydroxy Sulphate.
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1. Poly Aluminium Chloride
It is evident that for higher concentrations of fluoride, the removal
efficiency of fluoride is higher with Poly Aluminium Chloride
(PAC) when compared with Alum.
However, since Alum is more affordable and accessible.
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2. Poly Aluminium Hydroxy Sulphate (PAHS)
A polymeric aluminium compound, poly aluminium hydroxy
sulphate (PAHS) is found to require less flocculation time and
settling time.
Cost of PAHS is much less than the alum.
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