Using Pyrolyzed Rice Husks as an Adsorbent for Purification of Water Basins Polluted with Diesel Fuel

Black rice husk ash (BRHA) was obtained by means of thermal degradation of raw rice husks (RRH) on a pilot plant fluidized bed reactor. BRHA was characterized using chemical analyses, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The kinetics was studied using batch adsorption technique and on the basis of prior characterization by X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption capacities of diesel fuel at 288, 293 and 298?K onto BRHA were determined. Results showed that the material studied has very high adsorption capacity and low cost and may successfully be used as an effective adsorbent to clean up spills of oil products in water basins. The adsorption of diesel fuel onto BRHA proceeds rapidly to reach adsorption equilibrium in about 10?min. The saturated BRHA can be burnt in incinerators, industrial ovens or steam generators, and through this way ecological and economic benefits are attained.