There is an urgent need that all possible sources of inexpensive adsorbents should be explored and their feasibility for the removal of heavy metals. Thus, this study presents application of low-cost adsorbents agro-based wastes, such as rice husk and their utilization possibilities for elimination of heavy metals; Fe (II) and Pb (II) from wastewater by the adsorption process.The adsorption technique was used for the removal of Fe ²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in two drains (Khashaa drain and Tera drain) which are discharged into Burullus Lake.
The obtained results showed that, the adsorption of the metal ions was adsorbent dosage, adsorbate concentration, contact time and pH dependent. The optimum contact time, adsorbent dosage, and pH were found to be at 105 min, 8 g and pH 8, respectively, for Fe²⁺ and at 40 min, 8 g and pH 8, respectively, for Pb²⁺. Freundlich isotherm model was found to be the best fit most suitable for each of heavy metals at R²= 0.96, 0.91. Kinetic studies showed that pseudo-second-order reaction model best described the adsorption process.The results revealed also a good removal of Fe²⁺ and Pb²⁺using rice husk under optimum conditions with removal percentage 91.36% and 94.42% for Fe²⁺, respectively and Pb²⁺ in Khashaa drain and 93.56% and 90.93% for Fe²⁺ and Pb²⁺, respectively in Tera drain.
Therefore, the study showed that rice husk can be efficiently used as low cost alternative for removal of metal ions.