A novel green ceramic hollow fiber membrane (CHFM) derived from rice husk ash as combined adsorbent-separator for efficient heavy metals removal

A new application of green ceramic hollow fiber membrane (CHFM) derived from rice husk ash (RHA) for efficient heavy metals removal has been developed. A common and advanced fabrication method, i.e. combined phase inversion and sintering technique was used to produce the membrane with high flux. Thereby, the membrane can effectively act, as both adsorbent and separator for heavy metals in single-step process with high separation efficiency up to 99% removal of zinc [Zn(II)], lead [Pb(II)] and nickel [Ni(II)]. The kinetic data of these heavy metals show the best fit for pseudo-first order for Ni (II) [R2 =0.981] and intraparticle diffusion kinetic model for Zn (II) [R2 =0.913] and Pb (II) [R2 =0.914]. Thus, this study convinced that the ceramic membrane from waste rice husk ash proved to be an attractive, effective and environmentally friendly both adsorbent and separator for heavy metals removal from aqueous solution.