Comparison of the percent adsorption of raw corn husk and raw rice husk for bunker fuel

YURI V. ESCARILLA, BHEA ELAINE P. MALLARE, JULIA DUANE J. SELIBIO, and ZENNIFER L. OBERIO

Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHSWVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines

Abstract

Oil spills are detrimental to the environment and its inhabitants. In this study, raw corn husks (RCH) and raw rice husks (RRH) were used as sorbents for bunker fuel. Adsorption tests were performed by subjecting the sorbents in bunker fuel. The mean percent adsorption of RCH, RRH, and sorbent pad were 10.1%, 3.75%, and 56.8%, respectively. It was found that RCH exhibited a significantly higher mean percent adsorption than RRH which was most likely due to its relatively higher cellulose content. Additionally, sorbent pad exhibited a significantly higher mean percent adsorption than the husks possibly due to its higher saturation point. Although the adsorption percentages of RCH and RRH were significantly less than that of sorbent pads, their ability to adsorb made them viable sorbents for bunker fuel removal, and when compared, RCH would be the better sorbent over RRH.

Keywords: adsorption, rice husks, corn husks, bunker fuel, oil spill

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