ISSN: 0970-020 X

ORIENTAL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY CODEN: OJCHEG

An International Open Free Access, Peer Reviewed Research Journal
2016, Vol. 32, No. (6):
Pg. 3213-3219
www.orientjchem.org

Physical Properties and Chemical

Composition of the Rice Husk and Dust
TATYANA GERMANOVNA KOROTKOVA, SVETLANA JUREVNA KSANDOPULO,
ALEKSANDR PAVLOVICH DONENKO, SVYATOSLAV ANDREEVICH BUSHUMOV
and ALEKSANDRA SERGEEVNA DANILCHENKO

Kuban State Technological University, Russian Federation, 350072, Krasnodar,

Moskovskaya Street, 2.

http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/320644

(Received: November 03, 2016; Accepted: December 11, 2016)

ABSTRACT

The paper deals with the physical properties and chemical composition of rice husk and
dust, which are the waste of the Regulus raw rice growing in the Krasnodar Region of the Russian
Federation. Rice dust is formed as a result of the discharge upon the receipt of raw rice from vehicles,
removal of impurities, sorting by size, during separation of membranes, crushing, grinding, polishing,
moving grain along the elevators and conveyors, i.e. during all technological operations production
of rice groats. In order to remove dust, the group cyclone and the bag filter-cyclone are installed in
the pneumatic conveying systems and suction plants of “Southern Rice Company”, LLC. The paper
shows the chemical composition of samples of husk, dust retained by the group cyclone, and dust
retained by the bag filter-cyclone. Rice husk contains a significant amount of silicon dioxide – 14.8%.
The dust collected from the group cyclone contains ferrum (109 mg/kg), plumbum (1.1 ± 0.4 mg/kg),
and copper (1.2 ± 0.4 mg/kg). The bag filter-cyclone retains finer dust particles. The dust collected
in the cyclone is of yellowish-pink color, and the dust, collected from a bag filter-cyclone, is gray.
Fine dust, which has passed through the filter, is drier than the dust, segregated in a cyclone, so
it is more explosive and easily ignited. Dust can cause the explosion. The dust properties give an
indication of the degree of its danger and the ability to form explosive concentrations in air.

Keywords: Rice husk, Rice dust, group cyclone, Bag filter-cyclone,

Physical properties, chemical composition.

INTRODUCTION from vehicles, removal of impurities, sorting by

size, during separation of membranes, crushing,
Rice dust is formed during the processing grinding, polishing, moving grain along the elevators
of rice grain at a rice-processing plant as a result and conveyors, etc., i.e. during all technological
of the discharge upon the receipt of raw rice operations of the rice groats production.
3214 KOROTKOVA et al., Orient. J. Chem., Vol. 32(6), 3213-3219 (2016)

High dust concentration in the air is one of organic compounds includes C, H, O, N (Table 1).
the main adverse factors, resulting in environmental The inorganic components are represented mainly by
pollution and occupational diseases. Prolonged silica. In general, the authors of3 proposed to consider
breathing in the dusty air causes heavy damage to rice husk as silica. The chemical composition of rice
human health. Dust with a diameter greater than 10 husk ash is given in Table 2.
microns causes irritation of the upper respiratory
tract. Rice husk is used in agriculture and in
various industries. Paper5 provides the concept of
Grain dust is a respiratory sensitizer. This resource-saving processing of rice husk and straw,
means that it can cause an allergic reaction in the which provides pre-extraction of SiO2, followed by
respiratory system. After this reaction takes place, delignification of desilicated raw materials. For this
a further effect on the material, even in very small purpose, straw and rice husk were treated with 1
amounts, causes symptoms. The following are the N sodium hydroxide solution at 90° C for 60 min.
health impairment manifestations: rhinitis (runny The proposed technology for oxidating-organosolv
nose or nasal congestion); cough and shortness method of rice husk boiling allowed obtaining the
of breath; asthma (coughing, wheezing, and chest high yield pulp 79.5 ± 1.0 from the rice husk. It was
tightness); chronic bronchitis (cough and sputum); concluded that rice straw and husks are a promising
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) raw material for the production of valuable products
(long-term illness which makes breathing difficult – silica and cellulose with a high product yield.
and includes chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma);
extrinsic allergic alveolitis (fever, cough, shortness of In6, the physical properties and chemical
breath, joint pain, and weight loss). Organic dust is composition of the refractory clay and clay mixed
accompanied by a toxic syndrome, for example, grain with rice husk (Table 3) are studied.
fever (sudden onset of “influenza” with fever, often
associated with cough and chest discomfort)1. The control sample showed a weak thermal
resistance of one cycle, while the sample with the
In order to deter mine the chemical addition of husk has a thermal resistance of 10
composition of rice husk and dust, the authors cycles at 1200 °C. The silica content is in the range
selected the husk of the Regulus raw rice, which 50-70%. It is proposed to use such materials as the
grows in the Krasnodar Region of the Russian lining of thermal furnaces, melting furnaces, for point
Federation, and two dust grades, detained by a metals with low melting point. Elevated levels of iron
group cyclone and a bag filter-cyclone installed at the oxide indicate the suitability of the material for the
“Southern Rice Company”, LLC (Kholmsk Station, production of ceramics.
Krasnodar Region, Russia).
According to the results of laboratory tests,
Related work the grain dust surface area was determined to be
It is shown in the paper [2] that the place 0.6-0.9 sq.m./g7, rice dust bulk density – 0.221 g/
of rice hulling (separation of fruit shells) is the most cu.cm, and the density of rice dust particles – 1.46
dangerous one. The dust content during hulling with g/cu.cm8.
the use of wooden mill is 22.44 mg/cu.m., iron – 25
mg/cu.m. All workers suffer lung diseases. Forced The basic composition of the rice dust and
vital capacity (FVC) of all workers is less than 80%, the elemental composition of different portions of
while the normal value shall be more than 80%. rice dust is presented in9 (Tables 4 and 5). It was
noted that silica, cellulose and lignin are the main
Waste in the form of fruit shells (husks, components of the rice dust. The paper presents
peeling, chaff) is significant. The volume of rice husk the scheme of production of particle boards based
with hulling bran formed by rice grinding is 20-30% on a mixture of rice dust with the resin followed by
by grain weight. This annually renewable waste compression. To achieve high board quality, the husk
contains 28-30% of inorganic and 70-72% of organic is pulverized.
compounds3. According to4, the composition of the
 KOROTKOVA et al., Orient. J. Chem., Vol. 32(6), 3213-3219 (2016) 3215

Aspiration dust of grain processing industry hydrolysates, it was established that grain processing
is a set of residues of vegetable origin containing businesses solid waste can be used as a source of
polysaccharides and other organic substances digestible carbohydrates for yeast fermentation.
easily hydrolysable using acid10. The composition Easily digestible carbohydrates are obtained by acid
of aspirating waste of white, gray and black dust hydrolysis of aspiration dust polysaccharides10.
is provided in Table 6. The aspirating dust-based
suspension hydrolysis was performed in the METHODS
presence of a sulfuric acid with the concentration
intervals from 1.0% to 8.0% at 100 ± 0.1 °C. In this work, the number of components was
determined by the approved (RF) methodologies
Fermentation was performed in the media PND F 16.1: 2: 2.2: 2.3.46-06; PND F 16.1: 2: 2.2:
derived from hydrolysates synthesized from the 3.65-10; GOST 5180-2015.
white, gray and black dust using acid solutions
with the concentration of 1.0% to 5.0%. Based on The PND F 16.1: 2: 2.2: 2.3.46-06
the analysis of the changes in the concentration of methodology is based on inversely-voltammetric
yeast during fermentation of different kinds of dust method, which is based on the dependence of
the current passing through the analyzer cell
with the test solution, on the mass fraction of the
Table 1: The composition of the rice element contained in the solution and functionally
husk organic compounds linked to the form and parameters of the polarizing
voltage applied to the electrodes. This method is
Content, % wt. based on the ability of the element of interest to
C H O N electrochemically accumulate on the surface and
dissolve in the anode or cathode polarization at a
39.8-41.1 5.7-6.1 0.5-0.6 37.4-36.6 certain potential, which is characteristic for each

Table 2: The composition of the rice husk ash

Content, % wt.
SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO K2O Na2O P2O5

93.4 0.05 0.06 0.31 0.35 1.4 0.1 0.8

Table 3: Physical properties and chemical composition of clay and clay with rice husk

Physical properties
Sample Shrinkage Apparent Bulk density, Thermal Fire
% porosity, % g/cu.cm resistance, resistance, °C
cycles

Clay 3.89 27.15 1.98 1 1,300

Clay mixed with husk 3.00 36.74 1.52 10 1,200

Chemical composition
Sample SiO2, % Al2O3, % Fe2O3, %

Clay 62.00 20.00 7.58

Clay mixed with husk 54.70 12.00 7.99
3216 KOROTKOVA et al., Orient. J. Chem., Vol. 32(6), 3213-3219 (2016)

element. The peak height of the element recorded bottle during two subsequent weighings of not more
on voltammogram is proportional to the mass fraction than 0.02 g.
of the element in the solution.
RESULTS
The method for the determination of silicon
dioxide weight ratio (PND F 16.1: 2: 2.2: 3.65-10) is “Southern Rice Company”, LLC (S.R.C.)
based on the fusion of the sample with soda; smelt produces the gourmet brown rice of Regulus
leaching and transfer of the metal salts in chlorides by domestic variety, the qualitative characteristics of
treatment with hydrochloric acid; separating of silica which exceed the similar parameters of the best
using gelatin; ashing of silicic acid to silicon dioxide, imported samples. The technological stages of
and its determining using gravimetrical method. the raw rice production and the characteristics of
aspiration systems like air pollutants were considered
The humidity of rice husk and dust in11-12.
(GOST 5180-2015) was determined by drying to
constant weight. The dust samples were collected The following two types of dust collectors
by quartering. Drying was carried out to obtaining (cyclones) are installed in the working house of
a difference of dust (husk) masses with a weighing “Southern Rice Company”, LLC for cleaning of

Table 4: The elemental composition of different parts of the grain dust

Elemental Outer surface of Inside the Inner surface

composition husk, % wt. husk, % wt. of husk, % wt.

C 6.91 62.54 30.20

O 47.93 35.19 42.53
Si 45.16 2.27 27.27

Table 5: The basic composition of grain dust

Composition SiO2 Lignin Cellulose Protein Fat Other nutrients

% wt. 18.8-22.3 9-20 28-38 1.9-3.0 0.3-0.8 9.3-9.5

Table 6: Composition of aspirating waste

Material Concentration of substances, %, in various dusts

composition White Gray Black

Ash content 5.46 ± 0.07 10.23 ± 0.01 23.34 ± 0.07

Humidity 5.46 ± 0.07 6.42 ± 0.07 14.04 ± 0.07
Crude fat 2.8 ± 0.3 1.3 ± 0.3 0.4 ± 0.1
Protein 7.4 ± 0.1 3.2 ± 0.1 1.2 ± 0.1
Carbohydrates
Easy hydrolysable 32.0 ± 0.1 15.0 ± 0.1 13.1 ± 0.1
Heavy hydrolysable 40.0 ± 0.5 55.1 ± 0.5 36.1 ± 0.6
Reducing agents 0.4 ± 0.1 0.1 ± 0.03 0.1 ± 0.03
Mineral mixture 0.30 ± 0.01 5.00 ± 0.01 6.23 ± 0.01
 KOROTKOVA et al., Orient. J. Chem., Vol. 32(6), 3213-3219 (2016) 3217

pollutant emissions. TSOL – for cleaning of dusty cyclones are attached to the receiving hopper at the
air coming from aspiration and pneumatic networks top. Dusty air is supplied in the cyclone through the
(sawdust, weeds, grain dust and other impurities) of inlet and its movement becomes a helical rotational
particles larger than 126 microns, and U21-BBC-450 one. By centrifugal force the dust particles press
– the battery cyclone plant (Figure 1) with a 450 mm against the walls of the cyclone, lose speed and roll
cyclone diameter. U21-BBC was made by category down into the collecting cone. With the help of the
I of GOST 15150-69 (RF) in “U” climatic version (for lock closures unit, the collected dust is discharged
the macroclimatic area with a temperate climate) to the dust pipe, and through the exhaust pipes of
releasing the purified air upward, and is designed cyclones and setup box purified air is discharged
to collect medium sized dust. The large grain dust from the cyclones in the air duct. The air cleared of
collection efficiency is 95-98%. The battery cyclone large and medium-sized particles enters the bag (B)
plant consists of four cyclones of conical-cylindrical filter-cyclone (C) BCIEU 24.0-37, which has a flat
shape. The cylindrical part of the cyclone includes bottom and is provided with the impulse (I) blowing
inner and outer cylinders. The outer cylinder at the and electronic (E) control unit (U) with the filtration
top is cut along the spiral line; a pipe is welded to it. surface of 24 sq.m. and 37 bags. The dust is removed
The inner cylinder is inserted into the outer one. Four from the air during the air filtering through the fabric
cross-linked as separate bags and embedded in a
sealed filter case (Figure 2). The design of the bag
filter represents a collapsible cabinet, divided into
sections by vertical partitions. Each section has

Fig. 1: AS-7 Group cyclone U21-BBC-450 of Fig. 2: Bag filter-cyclone BCIEU 24.0-37 of
“Southern Rice Company”, LLC “Southern Rice Company”, LLC

a) rice husk; b) rice dust from c) rice dust from

the group cyclone; the bag filter-cyclone

Fig. 3: Wastes from the raw rice production

3218 KOROTKOVA et al., Orient. J. Chem., Vol. 32(6), 3213-3219 (2016)

Table 7: Chemical composition of rice husk and dust,

selected from group cyclone and bag filter-cyclone

Determined U.M. Analysis result ± error Measurement

indicators Rice Dust from Dust from bag methods
husk group cyclone filter-cyclone

Cadmium mg/kg < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 PND F 16.1:2:2.2:2.3.46-06
Copper mg/kg 1.8 ± 0.5 1.2 ± 0.4 < 1.0
Mercury mg/kg < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1
Nickel mg/kg < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5
Plumbum mg/kg 2.4 ± 0.6 1.1 ± 0.4 < 0.5
Zink mg/kg 1.2 ± 0.4 < 1.0 < 1.0
Cobalt mg/kg < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5
Ferrum mg/kg 126 109 < 100
Manganese mg/kg < 10 < 10 < 10
Arsenic mg/kg < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1
Selenium mg/kg < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1
Antimony mg/kg < 1.0 < 1.0 < 1.0
Bismuth mg/kg < 1.0 < 1.0 < 1.0
Silicon dioxide % 14.8 < 5 < 5 PND F 16.1:2:2.2:3.65-10
Humidity % 6.7 4.5 2.9 GOST 5180-2015

the cylindrically-shaped filter bags. The bags are rice dust in stagnant basins, heavy metals increase
stretched on a metal frame. The bags are periodically its acidity and contribute to the intensification of
cleaned of dust deposited thereon as a result of their CO2 as a result of the microorganisms activity. Bag
shaking through a special mechanism. filter-cyclone detains smaller dust particles, which is
consistent with the dust samples, listed in Figure 3.
To determine the chemical composition of
the waste generated during the processing of raw DISCUSSION
rice, the samples of husk, dust, detained by the group
cyclone and dust, detained by a bag filter-cyclone, Thus, the chemical composition analysis
were selected (Figure 3). (Table 7) shows that the rice husk is mainly
characterized by the presence of silicon dioxide,
The chemical composition of the rice dust coinciding with the opinion of the authors of [3]. It
and the husk is shown in Table 7. The rice husk should be noted that the dust color changes from
contains a significant amount of silicon dioxide – more light, yellowish-pink (Figure 3b) to dark gray
14.8%. The dust collected from the group cyclone (Figure 3c). This can be explained by the fact that
contains ferrum (109 mg/kg), plumbum (1.1 ± 0.4 mg/ pure copper gives to the dust the gold-pink color,
kg), and copper (1.2 ± 0.4 mg/kg). Due to abrasive but under the influence of different media the color
particles, ferrum is removed from gravity flow during changes and becomes brown-red. The presence of
grain movement; the fraction becomes heavy and is ferrum gives the dust particles a silver-white color,
deposited in the cyclone under the centrifugal force. and the ferrous oxides – the red one. The zinc dust
Wetter particles stick together and become larger. is light gray, but the color fades when exposed to air.
Man-made emissions of heavy metals, which include As it was mentioned above, the heavier dust particles
ferrum, plumbum and copper, cause global pollution containing iron are deposited in the battery cyclone
as a result of man-made dispersion. Upon flushing of plant.
 KOROTKOVA et al., Orient. J. Chem., Vol. 32(6), 3213-3219 (2016) 3219

CONCLUSION raise the grain silos weighting hundreds of tons.

Fine dust, which has passed through the filter is
The dust properties give an indication drier than the dust, segregated in a cyclone, so it is
of the degree of its danger and the ability to form more explosive and easily ignited13. In the Russian
the explosive concentrations in air. Dust can be a Federation, the grain dust refers to the 2nd hazard
cause of the explosion, which is able to blow out the class by explosiveness and flammability (explosive
concrete walls of the silo, to carry away the concrete dusts with the LEL (lower explosive limit) with a
superstructures over a distance of a few blocks, to concentration from 16 to 65 g/cu.m.).

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