From rice mill waste to water remediation: A circular economy and sustainability approach using magnesium ferrite incorporated inorganic matrix nanocomposites for chromium and nickel removal.

Authors

Vasinthiya Tej Anandhakumar, Pranika Muthukumar, Adhithya Suresh, Swarnakamatchi Ramesh, Nithya Kamaraj, Asha Sathish, Rasana Nanoth

Published in

Environmental science and pollution research international. Jul 10, 2026. Epub Jul 10, 2026.

Abstract

In this study, rice husk generated from the rice milling industry, commonly used as boiler fuel and subsequently discarded as ash along with wood residue ash, has been valorised into a functional bio-nanocomposite. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on synthetic or purified precursors, the present work directly utilizes this industrial waste, thereby addressing both waste management and material development within a circular economy framework. In this context, rice husk ash and wood ash were employed for the synthesis of magnesium ferrite-based bio-nanocomposite beads (MgF/RHWA) using a gelatin matrix. The developed beads exhibited a uniform size distribution in the range of 1.7-2.2 mm, indicating good structural stability. Adsorption studies demonstrated high removal efficiencies of 99% for Cr(VI) and 97% for Ni(II), with maximum adsorption capacities of 7.25 mg/g and 6.125 mg/g, respectively. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interaction between gelatin functional groups (-NH₂, -OH, -COOH) and the MgF/RHWA composite. Kinetic studies followed a pseudo-second-order model with multi-stage intraparticle diffusion, while isotherm analysis confirmed Langmuir behaviour. Selectivity studies revealed favourable performance in the presence of competing anions (sulphate, chloride, phosphate, and nitrate), demonstrating effectiveness in multi-ionic systems. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the MgF/RHWA beads showed an overall mass loss of 87.90%, confirming the composite nature of the material. Regeneration studies indicated good reusability, with the adsorbent maintaining significant adsorption efficiency over five consecutive cycles. Overall, the results highlight the potential of this waste-derived bio-nanocomposite as a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent for heavy metal removal in industrial wastewater.

PMID:
42430086
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Jul 2026.

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