Adsorption of Mercury from Aqueous Solutions Using Agricultural Waste (Wheat Husk and Rice Husk)

n this work , adsorption of mercury from aqueous solutions using agriculturalwaste (wheat husk, and rice husk) was investigated. The effect of solution pH,Iinitial mercury concentration, particle size and adsorbents dosage were studiedin batch and column experiments. The breakthrough point was 60 min for rice huskand 210 min for wheat husk. The results show that in the range studied decreasein initial concentration of mercury and particle size of agricultural waste cause anincrease in adsorption quantity, whereas increase in wheat husk and rice husk dosecause increa se in adsorption quantity. On the other hand, for pH < 4 increase inpH resulted in an increase in the amount of mercury adsorbed, whereas for pH > 4increase in pH had no effect. The Freundlich model was found to be the best modelto represent the equilibrium isotherm data.