Activated Rice Husk as Chemical Oxygen Demand Reducing Agent in Petroleum Contaminated Water

Abstract

Water contaminated by petroleum products contains many harmful carcinogenic wastes, which prove to be fatal for living beings. Treatment of such water is of paramount importance. Areas around Belagavi in Karnataka state (15.87°N 74.5°E) have rich alluvial soil known for its commercial crops sugar cane and paddy. The rich mills are a source of rice husk, and rice bran powder finds utility as a fodder and fuel source. The proposed work envisages the usage of low cost, readily available material, rice husk, as an adsorbent in treating petroleum contaminated water [PCW]. Water samples were obtained from 50 different locations in close vicinity of petrol filling stations, vehicle servicing points, garages in Belgaum city four times at regular intervals of six months (before and after monsoons). Samples are subjected to tests like alkalinity, calcium hardness, chemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, magnesium hardness pH, total dissolved solvents, and total hardness.  It was found that COD was higher for these samples and even higher for samples obtained after monsoons. Rice husk was used by considering pH, particle size, time, and dosage as the four parameters that govern its efficiency as adsorbent, thus reducing the COD of the samples.