Preparation of Silica Nanoparticles from Waste Product of Zirconium Carbide Facility

Abstract

Herein, silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) were synthesized from a waste product of the zirconium carbide facility (WPZF). Firstly, the WPZF was characterized by using physical and chemical methods like X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) methods. Then WPZF proceeded via chemical reagents to synthesize SiO2 NPs by using the sol-gel method. Obtained SiO2 NPs were characterized by using XRD, SEM, EDXA, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The yield of SiO2 NPs reached up to 96.5% and particles were spherical with a diameter of 20 ± 3 nm. Most importantly observed SiO2 NPs in this procedure has an amorphous structure.