IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-8-8-20141 Original Research Paper DEFLUORIDATION POTENTIAL OF SEA SHELL, RICE HUSK, GROUNDNUT SHELL AS A NON CONVENTIONAL ALTERNATIVE FOR FLUORIDE REMOVAL: AN IN–VITRO STUDY Dr. Dr. K.UMESH Dr. Dr. PALANIVEL PANDIAN Dr. August 2019 8 8 01 02 ABSTRACT

Purpose: To compare the defluoridation potential of Seashell, Rice husk, Groundnut shell Materials and method: It is an invitro study. The natural absorbents used in the study were sea shell, groundnut husk and rice husk. The absorbents were sun dried for 2 days and grinded to small/ fine particles. 50gms of each material was mixed with approximately 1kg of clay and molded into small pieces. To rule out the effect of clay on defluoridation, pure clay pieces (without any study material) was also molded. The artificial fluoridated water was prepared by keeping the concentration at 3mg/l. 500ml of prepared fluoridated water was collected in 4 containers (A,B,CandD).To these four containers one of the randomly selected study material was added. The post fluoride analysis was done at 8hrs, 16hrs and 24 hrs and finally portability analysis, mud analysis was done Results: Defluoridation effect was observed in all the 4 groups where the fluoride level reduced from 3mg/L to 0.05mg/L, 0.06mg/L, 0.07mg /L and 0.07mg/L in groundnut husk, Sea shell, Rice husk and Normal mud piece groups. Higher reduction was observed in groundnut husk group. Conclusion: Excessive fluoride in drinking water has several consequences to person’s health. In this study some waste natural absorbents have been used which have revealed significant defluoridation effect. Among those groundnut husk has better defluoridation effect.