Removal of fluoride ions from waste water using consumption and production waste combustion ash

Fluoride ions are the specific impurities which enter surface water from waste water generated by mining and processing of apatite–nepheline ore and apatite-bearing materials. The article reviews the modern methods of defluorination of waste water. The composition and content of active CaO are determined in ash residue of combustion of wood, wood–plastic and rubber–plastic waste. The implemented experimental selection of portions of ash residue and contact time with a model solution allow reaching the least concentrations of fluorides in waste water. The applicability of ash residue as a precipitator of fluoride at the water treatment efficiency up to 96–99% is proved. The experiments also show applicability of ash residue for the treatment of water of various acidity, and the organic underburning enhances efficiency of removal of fluoride ions from water. Wood ash fixes fluoride ions in an insoluble precipitate totally, and no outwashing takes place in case of exposure to water. For a precipitate after treatment with ash residue after combustion of plastic and wood mix, and plastic and resin, outwashing of fluoride ions is 5–10% of the total content of fluoride ions in precipitate. The use of waste in treatment of trade effluent may produce an integrated environmental effect: reduction of ecological stress caused by stockpiling of ash residue after combustion of consumption and production waste, and reduction of pollutants which enter natural water bodies with trade effluents.

Kharko P. A. Removal of fluoride ions from waste water using consumption and production waste combustion ash. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(9):101-116. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_9_0_101.

The study was carried out under state contract with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, contract no. FSRW-2024-0005.

P.A. Kharko, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Empress Catherine II Saint-Petersburg Mining University, 199106, Saint-Petersburg, e-mail: kharko_pa@pers.spmi.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4508-3933.

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