Simple extraction of silica nanoparticles from rice husk using technical grade solvent: effect of volume and concentration

Abstract

Abstract One of the main components of rice husk ash (RHA) is silica, which can be used as raw material for fertilizer. The study examined influences of various volume and concentration on silica extraction. The silica was extracted using a technical alkaline grade solvent (NaOH) with a variation in volume/the ratio of RHA to the amount of solvents (1: 4, 1: 5, and 1: 6) and the solvent concentration (0.50, 0.75 and 1 N). The highest average yield was found in the concentration of 1 N solvent with the ratio of RHA to the number of solvents 1: 6 is 62.83%. Based on the physical characteristics of silica from RHA which include whiteness (93.2496.66%), moisture content (0.49-2.81%), and density (0.56-0.95 g / mL) indicates that the use of technical alkaline solvents tends to decrease the purity of the proven silica also with the presence of major contaminants such as Na and Cl and other elements through SEM-EDX, XRF, and XRD test. In saline soils, the presence of contaminants in silica with an amorphous phase (2θ = 22.29°) especially Na and Cl may have a negative effect if used as raw material for fertilizers.