USE OF RICE HUSK ASH AS AN ADSORBENT FOR THE REMOVAL OF ZINC FROM STANDARD SOLUTION

Abstract

In the present study Rice Husk Ash has been used as a fixed bed in Column Adsorption Test to study the removal of Zinc metal from its Standard Solution. Various parameters such as pH, Initial Metal Ion Concentration were studied to find the optimum conditions for maximum efficiency. Temporal analysis was carried out to obtain the breakthrough curve which shows the time at which the bed has been fully utilized and cannot be further utilized. Experimental data obtained from the column study were fitted in two well established column models, Yoon-Nelson Model and Thomas Model to calculate the breakthrough time and adsorption capacity of the adsorbate respectively. Morphological Characteristics of Rice Husk Ash was also studied using the Image obtained from Scanning Electron Microscope and its analysis using ImageJ software. From the study it is concluded that RHA is highly porous and have high specific surface area, and from the results obtained from the tests it was concluded that Rice Husk Ash has high efficiency for the removal of zinc