Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CHARACTERIZATION OF PRESS MUD AND RICE HUSK COMBINATION FOR ADSORPTION OF HEAVY METALS FROM WASTE ACID GENERATED FROM THE PROCESSING OF E-WASTE BY INFORMAL SECTOR

Vikrant Srivastava and K.N. Sheth

Abstract

The processing of e-waste by informal sector to extract precious metals involves acid leaching which results in generation of waste acid with high concentrations of heavy metals. This study has made an effort to extract heavy metals from the waste acid using locally available agricultural waste. Various studies on rice husk, peanut husk and press mud have shown the efficiency of these wastes as adsorbents to remove heavy metals such as, Hg+, Pb+, Cd+ etc. This study determines the characteristics of Press mud and Rice husk used together as an adsorbent to treat waste acid prior to disposal. Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET) and Scanning Electron Microscope Energy-dispersive Xray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), the possibility of chemisorption and physisorption that leads to reduction inthe concentration of heavy metals has been explored. The objective of this paper is to determine the suitability of press mud and rice husk, as a combination, to be used as an adsorbent to treat waste acid generated by acid leaching of E-waste by informal sector.