Assessing the Use of Rice Husks and Spent Grain for the Removal of Heavy Metals From Surface Water

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination of surface water sources in the vicinities of active and redundant mining regions is a major health hazard to communities which consume the water. Conventional methods of purifying the polluted waters fall short in rural areas due to operational and monetary issues. This research assesses the use of local agricultural wastes, Rice Husks and Spent Grain as adsorbents to remove copper and iron from water. The materials were used in steam activated biochar form and results showed that a composite mix ratio of 1:3 (Rice Husks: Spent Grain) was most effective for the heavy metal removal with efficiencies of 95.63% for copper and 94.63% for iron using chemical adsorption mechanisms. This study also highlights the enhancement of Spent grain as an adsorbent using Rice Husks for multi-metal polluted waters.