Remediation of Textile Wastewater Using Activated Rice Husk

https://doi.org/10.46610/JoEES.2025.v010i02.002

Abstract

The textile sector is experiencing rapid expansion, currently yielding an annual production of 88.5 million tonnes. This growth is contributing to heightened urbanization and environmental pollution in various countries, including Brazil, Africa, and India. The surge in industrialization has led to a substantial demand for chemicals such as dyes, pigments, and colours across multiple sectors, including textiles, printing, food, paper, plastic, and cosmetics. As the textile industry evolves with ever-changing fashion trends, it inevitably generates effluent discharge that poses challenges to human health, aquatic ecosystems, soil quality, and overall ecological well-being. In response, this research initiative focuses on alleviating pollution and toxicity. The researcher has employed the Adsorption method, utilizing Rice Husk (RH) (a natural adsorbent), to reduce heavy metal concentrations in water samples. The study involved the analysis of 12 parameters to assess impurities in the sample, encompassing physical factors like Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), conductivity, and odour, as well as chemical indicators such as pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), chloride, fluoride, sulphate, and heavy metals. Following the treatment using Activated Rice Husk (ARH), reductions were observed in parameters like pH, COD, BOD, TDS, SO4-, F, Cr, and Pb. Notably, heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb), initially present in textile effluent, were effectively eliminated by up to 90% from the sample. The adsorption method successfully diminished all impurities in the wastewater sample. Ultimately, the study concluded that among the tested quantities (3g, 5g, and 7g), 7g of the natural adsorbent ARH exhibited the most efficacies. This method proves to be cost-effective, accessible, and quickly operational.