Utilization of agro-residues (rice husk) in small waste water treatment plans

Surplus, low-value agricultural by-product (rice husk) can be made into sorbent materials which are used in environmental remediation. This study characterized and evaluated two types of sorbents made from rice husk. The efficiency of both sorbents in the removal of the complex matrix containing six heavy metals was approximate to 100%. These metals are Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb, which are found in the drain containing the agriculture and sewage wastewater at El-Menofiya Governorate, Egypt. The two sorbent materials were prepared according to the scheme presented. The two sorbents made from the rice husk have considerable potential for adsorption of metals of environmental concern. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.