Low Cost Efficient Treatment for Contaminated Water

Heavy metals pose a risk of contaminating groundwater and surface water sources due to geogenic activities, industries and agricultural sources. The removal of heavy metals e.g., cadmium, lead, and zinc from drinking, industrial and irrigation water at low concentrations is a recurring challenge, especially in developing countries. Biosorption is a relatively new process that has proved to be very promising for removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The removal of contaminants viz., Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) by rice husk (lignin containing material) was studied in the laboratory. Batch studies were performed to evaluate the influences of various experimental parameters like pH, initial concentration of metal ions, biosorbent dosage and contact time. The selectivity of the process is also studied. The findings show the efficiency of material for the removal these contaminants with a low concentration in the range 1-5 mg/L. The removal efficiency is up to 95%.