Assessment of Elemental Composition of Rice Husk from Darma Rice Mills, Katsina State, Nigeria

Rice husk (RH), an abundant agricultural by-product obtained during rice milling, has attracted increasing attention due to its potential applications in agriculture, environmental remediation, and industrial production. However, its elemental composition may change depending on environmental conditions, cultivation practices, and processing methods, leading to the possible contamination with toxic heavy metals that pose environmental and health concerns. This study investigated the elemental composition of rice husk obtained from Darma Rice Mill, Katsina State, Nigeria, using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. The rice husk samples were collected, prepared, and analyzed to determine the concentration of major and trace elements. The results revealed the presence of several elements at varying concentrations, with silicon (Si) identified as the dominant beneficial element due to the naturally siliceous nature of rice husk. Other essential elements such as potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), sulfur (S), and aluminum (Al) were also detected. However, lead (Pb) recorded an exceptionally high concentration and exceeded the permissible limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), indicating possible environmental contamination. Trace elements including niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), tin (Sn), tantalum (Ta), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were detected at relatively low concentrations. The findings highlight the potential environmental and public health risks associated with improper reuse or disposal of contaminated rice husk and emphasize the need for continuous monitoring, proper management, and treatment strategies to minimize heavy metal contamination.