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Fixed bed column study for Cd(II) removal from wastewater using treated rice husk
Upendra Kumar1, Manas Bandyopadhyay
1Environmental Engineering Section, Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India. upendra_kumar72@rediffmail.com
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|October 13, 2005
Summary
Sodium carbonate-treated rice husk effectively removes cadmium (Cd(II)) from wastewater in a continuous fixed-bed column. This sustainable material offers efficient cadmium remediation and can be regenerated for reuse, showcasing its potential for water purification.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Adsorption Science
Background:
- Cadmium (Cd(II)) contamination in water poses significant environmental and health risks.
- Conventional water treatment methods for heavy metals can be costly and inefficient.
- Agricultural waste materials offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for water remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of sodium carbonate-treated rice husk as an adsorbent for cadmium removal from aqueous solutions.
- To investigate the performance of the treated rice husk in a continuous fixed-bed column system.
- To determine the influence of operational parameters on cadmium removal efficiency and column performance.
Main Methods:
- A fixed-bed column packed with sodium carbonate-treated rice husk was employed for continuous cadmium removal.
- Experiments were conducted with varying bed depths (10, 20, 30 cm) at a constant initial cadmium concentration (10 mg/l) and flow rate (9.5 ml/min).
- Column design parameters, breakthrough curves, and desorption/regeneration using 0.01 mol/l HCl were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The treated rice husk demonstrated high efficiency in removing Cd(II) in a continuous fixed-bed column.
- Increased bed depth led to higher treatment volumes (2.96, 5.70, 8.55 l for 10, 20, 30 cm depths, respectively).
- Adsorption capacity and rate were calculated, and theoretical breakthrough curves aligned well with experimental data. The adsorbent was successfully regenerated and reused for two cycles.
Conclusions:
- Sodium carbonate-treated rice husk is a highly effective and sustainable adsorbent for removing cadmium from wastewater in a fixed-bed column.
- The material's reusability and efficient performance highlight its potential for practical application in water purification.
- Further studies on optimizing flow rate and initial concentration can enhance its applicability for industrial wastewater treatment.