Obtaining colloidal silicon dioxide (Sio2) from quartz

Abstract

Colloidal amorphous silica is a product based on micronized silicon dioxide (SiO2) powder. The product is in large demand on the market due to its outstanding adsorption properties. It is widely known as AEROSIL®. The AEROSIL® technology is based on the use of silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) as a raw material component, which determines the cost, energy and environmental assessments of the process. One of the ways to improve these technical and economic assessments is to find solutions that eliminate the use of SiCl4 from the process of producing micronized quartz powder. As an alternative technology, we consider plasma processes for the production of nano-powders of silica according to a scheme that eliminates the need to produce SiCl4. In the proposed scheme, amorphous silicon dioxide is produced using a technology with direct use of a natural source of silicon – quartzite. The technology is realized by a sequence of technological operations of activation of quartzite particles and deep energy-efficient purification of quartz at the molecular level, which allows to obtain ultrafine amorphous silica of high purity. Performing technological operations at low temperatures and without energy consumption for melting materials, complete regeneration of reagents allows us to meet the requirements of cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of production.