REMOVAL OF HEAVY METAL IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING RICE HUSKS-BASED ADSORBENTS

Authors

Fanuel J Ligate, 1Chemistry Department, Mkwawa University College of Education, P. O. Box 2513, Iringa, TanzaniaFollow
James E.G Mdoe, Chemistry Department, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35061, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaFollow

Section

Physical Sciences

Abstract

This study reports on the preparation and characterization of rice husks-based adsorbents and their application in the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution. Three different adsorbents were developed: rice husks ash (RHA), rice husks ash-derived silica (RHS) and triaminopropyl-silica hybrid (TSH-R). The prepared materials were characterized by acid titration, Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) spectroscopy and nitrogen physisorption analysis. Results from the ATR-FTIR analysis indicated that pure silica was obtained from RHA and that after surface modification the triaminopropyl group was successfully attached onto the silica framework with a loading of 2.15 mmol per g silica. The RHA, RHS, TSH-R had average particle sizes of 336.8, 296.4 and 1054.1 nm and BET surface areas of 17.8, 20.2 and 5.7 m2/g, in the same order. Adsorption studies of Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Co2+ions showed that RHA and TSH-R were good adsorbents with an average maximum adsorption of 99 and 95 % for RHA and TSH-R, respectively when 1.0 g of adsorbent and initial metal ions concentration of 21 - 27 mg/L at pH 4 were employed. Both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms indicated that the adsorption was favorable

Recommended Citation

Ligate, Fanuel J and Mdoe, James E.G (2015) "REMOVAL OF HEAVY METAL IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING RICE HUSKS-BASED ADSORBENTS," Tanzania Journal of Science: Vol. 41: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at:https://doi.org/10.65085/2507-7961.1807