article · Sustainable Chemistry One World
Rice husk is an abundant agricultural byproduct whose accumulation causes notable environmental issues. Treating this residue with nitric acid yields a functionalised biosorbent featuring a porous, macro-structured network that enhances metal uptake. Laboratory batch tests evaluated the modified material for the removal of manganese ions from contaminated water under varying conditions of pH, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and contact time. Under optimal settings of neutral pH, room temperature, and a 60-minute duration, the functionalised husk achieved a manganese removal efficiency of 94.96 per cent from a 50 parts per million solution. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses showed the adsorption mechanism to be spontaneous and exothermic, fitting pseudo-second-order and Freundlich models. The technique offers a dual benefit by addressing agricultural residue disposal while providing an effective biosorbent for water purification.
Contamination of water by heavy metals poses serious environmental hazards, while crop processing generates vast quantities of unmanaged residues. Using modified rice husks to filter manganese provides a sustainable, cost-effective strategy to treat polluted water. This approach turns an abundant agricultural waste stream into a functional resource, supporting circular economy practices and cleaner water supplies.
This work demonstrates an applied, laboratory-tested biosorbent that could be utilized by wastewater treatment operators and environmental management facilities seeking low-cost heavy metal removal solutions. Because the data derive entirely from small-scale batch experiments handling gram-scale samples, the process remains at an early research stage, requiring scale-up validation and continuous-flow trials before practical commercial use can occur.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Rice husk (RH), an abundant agricultural byproduct, presents significant environmental concerns due to its accumulation and potential leaching of hazardous manganese (Mn) ions. This study evaluates the feasibility of using rice husk as an eco-friendly and cost-effective biosorbent for removing Mn(II) from contaminated water. A modified adsorbent, nitric acid-functionalized rice husk (NT-RH) was synthesized and characterized using SEM-EDX, PXRD , and FTIR techniques to assess its structural properties. The NT-RH exhibited a porous, macro-structured network that enhanced its adsorption capacity. Batch experiments examined key Mn(II) removal variables, including adsorbent dosage, temperature, contact time, and pH. The results demonstrated a maximum removal efficiency of Mn(II) of 94.96 % under optimal conditions, which included a manganese concentration of 50 ppm, an adsorbent mass of 0.6 g, a temperature of 25°C, a pH of 7, and a contact time of 60 minutes. The adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic, with kinetics described by a pseudo-second-order model and isotherms best represented by the Freundlich model. Therefore, this research highlights the potential of rice husk as a sustainable material for removing Mn(II), effectively addressing the dual challenges of agricultural waste management and water purification . In addition, the development of NT-RH represents a promising method for enhancing biosorbent materials within environmental management, materials science, and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies. • Rice husk (RH) is a significant agricultural waste used as a biosorbent. • Functionalized RH with nitric acid (NT-RH) significantly enhanced the sorption activity of the biosorbent. • A maximum removal efficiency of 94.96 % was achieved under the studied condition.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scowo.2025.100047
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
