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Utilization of Rice Husk Based Activated Carbon As An Adsorbent For Contaminated Water
Utilization of Rice Husk Based Activated Carbon As An Adsorbent For Contaminated Water
Region V
Department of Education
Division of Tabaco
Tabaco National High School
S.Y. 2018-2019
Researcher
Research Adviser
Introduction
The Philippines is known for its agricultural activities such as rice production due
to its wide agricultural land areas. Rice is the most consumed staple food in the
Philippines. Because of this, the Filipinos are among the world’s biggest rice
consumers. The country produced around 16 million tons of rice in 2007 and nearly 20.7
million metric tons in 2010. However, the said crop produces agricultural residues which
is one of the most common agricultural wastes in the Philippines, the rice husks. The
estimated production of Rice husks in the country is more than 2 million tons per
annum. The said residue has been given alternative actions to be put in good use.
(Zafar, 2018)
The rice husk, also called rice hull, is the coating on a seed or a grain of rice. It is
formed from hard materials, including silica and lignin, to protect the seed during the
growing season. (IIRI, Year Unknown) The said residue has been used by other
companies for energy production and as a boiler fuel to generate electricity. In some
cases, the rice hulls are being thrown away or burned which, according to the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), contributes more air pollution than
vehicle emissions. This residue has also been used as an adsorbent for aqueous
solutions due to its high carbon content which, according to IIRI, has a 40% carbon
content. Activated carbon products, on the other hand, are produced from organic
With this, the researcher would like to address the main problem of the study
contaminated with heavy metals such as copper, lead and iron. According to Ateneo De
Naga University (ADNU), the Naga River has been contaminated due to the pollution of
land and waterways. It stated there that the said river has been contaminated by heavy
metals such as mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) which exceeded the natural content
Norte wherein small-scale gold miners disposed the untreated wastewater from
amalgamation process to water bodies, according to the study of Samaniego et. al.
Results showed that all metals, except for Ba, exceeded the effluent regulatory limits
including Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) which are 44 and 94 times higher than the limit,
respectively. This problem has also been experienced in Jonop, Malinao Albay,
according to the study of Cañon et. al., wherein the underground water, which is one of
their sources of water, is now contaminated due to agricultural runoffs such as overuse
of fertilizers and pesticides used by farmers in their crops that affects the soil leading to
land pollution. The contaminants in the water are usually trace metals like aluminum,
copper, iron, lead, nickel, and sodium. Heavy metal toxicity has proven to be a major
threat and there are several health risks associated with it. They sometimes act as a
pseudo element while at certain times they may even interfere with metabolic
processes. This can also lead to various disorders and can also result in excessive
Issues like this are being solved by utilizing Activated Carbon to adsorb
contaminants. Activated Carbon is a unique adsorbent prized for its extremely porous
structure that allows it to effectively capture and hold materials. Widely used throughout
activated carbon can be applied to an unending number of applications that require the
removal of contaminants or undesirable materials, from water and air purification, to soil
remediation, and even gold recovery. However, the issue being faced here is the price
wherein the minimum price of only a kilogram of Activated Carbon is 225 Php.
With this, the researcher plans to utilize rice husk, which is an agricultural residue
usually costs low if sold, as an adsorbent in the form of Activated Carbon. This study
adsorb heavy metals, specifically lead, iron, and copper, in contaminated waters.
2. What are the significant differences between the results of adsorption of iron,
3. What are the significant differences between the results of the adsorption
rice husks?
Methods
10 kg of Rice husks were gathered at Cabagñan, Tabaco City, Albay. After the
collection, these were then washed thoroughly to remove unwanted impurtities. The
residues were then sun-dried for 30-45 min. After the cleaning and drying of the rice
husks, the equipment and tools for the carbonization and activation were prepared.
Carbonization
The dried husks were pulverized using a mortar and pestle and were then placed
in a container with a lid. The husks were then indirectly exposed to heat. The lid of the
container was needed to avoid other gaseous elements interfering with the
carbonization. The husks were carbonized for 30-45 min depending on the amount of
heat applied. After the carbonization, the husks were placed in a clean container left to
Activation
The carbonized rice husks were activated chemically using Zinc Chloride with
different concentrations (20%, 40%, 60% and 80%). The husks with Zinc Chloride was
added with distilled water at a quantity amounting to ten times the total weight of the
solid mixture. The mixtures were then stirred and heated. A thick uniform paste was
obtained after 2 hours. The mixtures were then covered and cooled for 24 hours.
Three set-ups were prepared: one for the Lead contaminated water, one for the
copper contaminated water, and one for the Iron contaminated water. The
contamination was made possible by applying 50% of lead, copper sulfate, and ferrous
sulfate to three 200 mL water for each replicate in the three set-ups. Each set-up
carbon.
Adsorption Process
the 4 replicates of each set-up. After the application, the mixtures were continuously
stirred until visible changes were observed. The mixtures were then covered and set for
15 minutes. After the adsorption, the mixtures were then filtered using a filter paper to
separate the activated carbon and adsorbed water. The adsorption rate of the activated
carbon was then observed using the percent removal and the mixtures were sent to
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894708000223
projects/completed/baseline-assessment-of-the-current-environmental-condition-
of-the-naga-river/
wastewater from a Ball Mill Facility in Small-Scale Gold Mining Area of Paracale,
no-3-september-2018/803-physico-chemical-characteristics-of-wastewater-from-
a-ball-mill-facility-in-small-scale-gold-mining-area-of-paracale-camarines-norte-
philippines
https://www.bioenergyconsult.com/agricultural-resources-in-philippines/