Binding of four heavy metals to hemicelluloses from rice bran

This paper demonstrates that rice bran hemicellulose A (RBHA), hemicellulose B (RBHB) and hemicellulose C (RBHC) have the potential for binding heavy metal ions. The quantity of metal ions bound varies from one rice bran fibre to another. As it can be inferred from the results of the study, RBHB was characterised by the highest capacity for metal ion (Pb, Cu and Cd) binding, followed by RBHC and RBHA. Binding of heavy metals to insoluble dietary fibre (RBDF) and cellulose from rice bran were found to be poor. Lignin from rice bran was the least active fraction for binding heavy metal ions.