Treated Rice Bran for Scavenging Cr(III) and Hg(II) from Acidic Solution

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the efficiency with which rice bran (treated or untreated) removes heavy metals, especially Cr(III) and Hg(II), from acidic solution. Sorption assays were done in shaken flasks in the presence of rice bran. Different experimental conditions such as pH, volume of solution, bran weight, particle size, exchange time and stirring time were improved. The efficiency of bran was studied before and after treatments. For treatment, solutions of acid, alkali and salt were used. The results show that after treating with 4 M sodium chloride solution, its efficiency in removal of Cr(III) and Hg(II) was improved. Kinetic measurements of chromium and mercury removal by bran have revealed that sorption equilibrium was obtained after 10 min of contact. Sorption experiments done with various granulometric fractions of rice bran have shown that this sorbent has the same efficiencies in meshes higher than 20. Further research is necessary in order to determine a mechanism for cations removal by the bran. It is mentioned that the process of making polished rice from brown rice discharges rice bran; therefore, it is very inexpensive, with a cost of 1/50 − 1/40 of that of synthetic sorbent, and thus its use would significantly lower the cost of wastewater treatment.