Rice husk ash-based silica-supported iron catalyst coupled with Fenton-like process for the abatement of rice mill wastewater

An economically efficient and eco-benign new approach was performed for the treatment of rice mill wastewater by Fenton-like process using rice husk ash (RHA)-based silica-supported iron catalyst. The detailed characterization of the prepared catalyst was described by SEM, XRD, and FT-IR. The maximum COD reduction of 75.5 % was achieved at response surface-optimized conditions that constitutes of catalyst dose 4.12 g/L, H₂O₂ concentration 4.2 g/L and pH 3.2. The non-toxic nature of the treated rice mill effluent using green catalyst was revealed by phytotoxicity. Meticulous efforts have been made for judicious utilization of one waste (RHA) against another serious waste (rice mill wastewater) abatement of the same industry. Findings clearly established that the proposed designed scheme offered a complete sustainable solution towards minimization of various wastes generated from rapidly growing rice mills.