Adsorption of Copper, Zinc and Iron using Microwave Incinerated Rice Husk Ash (MIRHA) Columns

Microwave Incinerated Rice Husk Ash (MIRHA), produced from the rice husk is
one ofthe low-cost materials that were used as a sorbent ofheavy metal. It was proven by
lots of researchers around the world about the potential ofthe rice husk ash with different
method of preparation. The main objective of the project is to determine the adsorption
rate ofthe MIRHA by using the column method. The effects ofimportant factors, such
as the flow rate, the influent concentration and bed depth will be studied.
The rice husk ash was burned in controlled temperature. Furthermore, to ensure
the MIRHA is in the adsorption zone, the MIRHA need to be immersed in weak acid for
24 hours. The project continues by preparing the fixed-bed column with the MIRHA
placed inside the column with three different bed heights. The project also varied by
using the Zinc, Copper and Iron in aqueous solution as the influent. Thomas, Adams-
Bohart, and Yoon-Nelson models were applied to experimental data to predict the
breakthrough curves using non-linear regression and to determine the characteristic
parameters ofthe column useful for process design.
The result obtained shows thatMIRHA was capable of adsorbing 100 %of heavy
metal with different rates. The types of influent and the bed height also influencing the
breakthrough time. Thomas model was found suitable for the normal description of
breakthrough curve at the experimental condition, while Adams-Bohart model was only
for aninitial part ofdynamic behaviour ofthe rice husk column.
As the conclusion, the MIRHA is an efficient adsorbent and has a capable of
removing 100 %the heavy metal in the experiment. The usage ofMIRHA as the heavy
metal removal can be commercialized and this method can be applied in the wastewater
treatment plant. The initial region ofbreakthrough curve was defined by Adams-Bohart
model at all experimental condition studied while the full description of breakthrough
could be accomplished by Thomas models. Lastly, the objective of the project was
achieved.