Elemental analysis of rice husk using X-ray fluorescence techniques – a case study of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The rice husk or hard protective shell are woody, siliceous, and not edible part of the rice plant. Here in, the elemental composition of rice husk was determined using the energy dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Technique. The rice husks were obtained from four different Local Governments namely, Hadejia, Dutse, Auyo and Ringim of Jigawa State, Nigeria. The samples were collected during dry season and ground into a fine powder using mortar and pestle The results of the analyses revealed the presence of eleven elements which are; Silicon (Si), Rubidium (Rb), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Bromine (Br) and Strontium (Sr) for Hadejia and Ringim while Dutse and Auyo are having ten with the absence of Br. The elements detected and their concentration (in %) for Hadejia, Dutse, Auyo and Ringim respectively are as follows Si (69.05, 70.52, 73.18, 69.33), Rb (0.321, 0.153, 0.164, 0.219), K (16.52, 16.03, 14.29, 16.66), Ca (8.45, 8.064, 8.101, 8.85), Mn (1.104, 1.026, 0.99, 1.077), Fe (3.739, 3.564, 2.719, 3.162), Ni (0.27, 0.291, 0.291, 0.249, 0.26), Cu (0.021, 0.018, 0.017, 0.015), Zn (0.36, 0.266, 0.226, 0.307), Br (0.065, 0.00, 0.00, 0.046) and Sr (0.087, 0.056, 0.05, 0.063). The results of the analysis in % shows Si with high percentage concentration followed by K and the rest are in the following ascending order Ca > Fe > Zn > Rb > Sr > Br > Ni > Cu. Four new elements were discovered namely; Rb, Cu, Sr and Br in rice husk which were not common in other existing studies. The composition can also be affected by factors such as soil chemistry, climatic conditions, and the type of fertilizer used.