Production of Modified Zeolites from Rice Husk Ash for Removal of Cadmium from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

In this study, ZSM-5 zeolite from rice hush ash (RHA) was synthesized and modified to assess the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution using standard methods. Both the synthesized and modified ZSM-5 were characterized using XRD, SEM TEM, FTIR and BET. Presence of silicate in the RHA was confirmed with XRF to contain 86.85% silicate. Batch experiments of the adsorption carried out with specific concentration of cadmium shows that both the synthesized and modified zeolites demonstrated 44% and 78% cadmium ions removal from the simulated solution respectively. The study concluded that synthesized and modified ZSM-5 zeolites are highly efficient adsorbent for heavy metal removal.