Abstract

• This research was aimed to study the characterization and adsorption properties of prepared cellulose acetate-rice husk composite films. Rice husk (Zeyar) was collected from a local rice mill in Hlegu Township, Yangon Region, Myanmar. The characterizations of prepared cellulose acetate and rice husk were determined according to physicochemical properties such as pH, moisture content, and bulk density. The polymer composite films were prepared by using cellulose acetate (CA), rice husk (RH), and glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker. The prepared CA-RH composite films were characterized by conventional methods such as swelling and modern techniques such as EDXRF and SEM. For the removal of lead ions by CA-RH composite films, the effects of various parameters such as pH, initial concentration, contact time, and dosage were investigated by batch method. The adsorption capacity decreased with the increase in the initial concentration of lead ions in the solution. In conclusion, CA-RH composite films should be used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater.