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Sodium Silicate From RHA-BD-ARJ-V.4n.2.37-42

This document describes a pilot plant study on producing sodium silicate from rice husk ash. The study developed an alternative process for producing sodium silicate by reacting rice husk ash, sodium hydroxide, and water. Samples produced in the study were characterized and compared to a sample from the local market. Characterization included UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM analysis, which showed the prepared samples matched the collected sample.

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Samia Sharif
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
234 views5 pages

Sodium Silicate From RHA-BD-ARJ-V.4n.2.37-42

This document describes a pilot plant study on producing sodium silicate from rice husk ash. The study developed an alternative process for producing sodium silicate by reacting rice husk ash, sodium hydroxide, and water. Samples produced in the study were characterized and compared to a sample from the local market. Characterization included UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM analysis, which showed the prepared samples matched the collected sample.

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Samia Sharif
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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P a g e | 38

Available online at http://arjournal.org

APPLIED RESEARCH JOURNAL

RESEARCH ARTICLE

ISSN: 2423-4796
Applied Research Journal Vol. 4, Issue, 2, pp.38-42, February, 2018

PILOT PLANT STUDY ON PRODUCTION OF SODIUM SILICATE FROM RICE HUSK ASH
1
M. H. Ara Begum, 1* M. M. Hossain, 2 R. Islam, 3 S. Aziz
1 Industrial Physics Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, BCSIR, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
2 Engineering and Physics Department, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, USA.
3 Chemical Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, BCSIR, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT


Article History: Sodium silicate is a high viscous liquid which is used as raw materials for
producing silica gel, component of soaps and detergents, inks, cement etc.
Received: 11, February, 2018 Conventionally sodium silicate is produced by fusing sand and soda ash
Final Accepted: 23, March, 2018 together at high temperature in tank furnace and subsequently digesting the
Published Online: 20, April, 2018 fused mass in water. In the pilot plant study, an alternative process has been
developed for the production of sodium silicate. In this process sodium
silicate was produced by reacting rice husk ash, sodium hydroxide and
Key words:
water. The prepared samples were characterized and compared with the
Calcination, Rice husk ash, Sodium silicate, sample collected from local market.
Synthesis.
© Copy Right, ARJ, 2018. All rights reserved

1. INTRODUCTION
In 21th century environment pollution is one of the greatest problems all over the world. One of the main
reasons of that is the rapid growth of industries. The industries release waste and many of which are
hazardous and cause serious environment problem. At present in Bangladesh there are lots of small
industries for rice processing. The main by-product of these industries is rice husk ash. In dry season, these
ashes fly with air and causes environmental pollution. This agricultural waste has a significant calorific
value and a high percentage of amorphous silica. This ash can used in the production of Portland cement [1].
Rice husk contains more than 90% active silica [2].
RHA can contain silica in the amorphous form; therefore, it can be considered as promising materials to
produce silica, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride [3-5]. Sodium silicate (also called sodium water-glass) is a
clear liquid, semi-solid or solid viscous substance with sticky nature. Sodium silicate has huge demand in
our country. Recent annual demand is about 20000 M Ton and increased annual demand is about 30000 M
Ton. This product has wide applications like in producing silica gel, detergent, packaging industries, cement
of glass, pottery and stone ware, fire proof paper, absorbents, abrasive particles, refractory, binder for
inorganic paint, preserving eggs and many other applications [6-7].
Using 45% sodium silicate as binding material, compressive strength of concrete can be improved [8]. At
present the above mentioned industries of Bangladesh use sodium silicates which are mainly imported and
very small amount is produced in local industries. Sodium silicate is produced from melting quartz sand with
sodium carbonate. Although this process is widely used all over the world, this process is very expensive
since it requires high energy during the calcinations stages [9]. There is an alternative method to produce
sodium silicate by reacting with alkaline oxide like sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
RHA is soluble in alkaline solution. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used as alkaline agent to extract silica.
The experimental procedure is described below.

*Corresponding author: M. M. Hossain, Email: [email protected]


Industrial Physics Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, BCSIR, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
P a g e | 39 M. H. Ara Begum et. al.

xSiO2+2NaOHNa2O.xSiO+H2O (1)

In a clean stainless mixing vat 10% (by weight of total component) rice husk ash was mixed with 30%
water by stirring. 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was added to the mixture and for proper mixing, heating
was started. In this stage, the mixture was heated in the mixing/reaction vat for 10 minutes at 1000C. After
this the mixture was diluted by adding 55% water and stirring was going on. In this step the diluted solution
was allowed to settle for at least 24 hours without any interruption at room temperature. After setting the
diluted solution containing sodium silicate was separated from suspended solid by decantation.
The decant solution was heated to a stage where fine suspended particles coagulated. The coagulated
mass was visible when temperature of the solution was lower down to room temperature.
After sufficient time the coagulated mass was then separated by cloth filtration. The filtrate was heated at
1000C and stirring was running at 60 to 70 rpm. After evaporation, sodium silicate was formed.
Density of the product was chosen according to the use of the product. Finally, the prepared samples were
characterized. We labeled our prepared samples as S1 & S2 and collected sample from local market as S3.

Figure 1 Schematic diagram for the production of sodium silicate.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION


3.1. UV-Vis Spectroscopy
UV-Visible transmission spectra of the samples were investigated by using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer
(Shimadzu UV-1601) in the wavelength range of 200-1100 nm. The UV-Vis spectra are shown in Figure 2.
The spectra show a strong transmission peak at around 300 nm. Above 300 nm transmittance decreases and
becomes constant after a certain value.
3.2. FTIR Spectroscopy
The FTIR analysis in transmission mode was performed using IR Affinity-1 Shimadzu
spectrophotometer.
The spectra are shown in Figure 3. Band at 3400 cm-1 is due to O-H stretching vibration and a band at
1600 cm-1 is due to O-H bending vibration. There are also two bands at 100 cm-1 and 1000 cm-1 which are
attributed to asymmetric stretching vibration of Si-O-Si and symmetric stretching vibration of Si-O-Si
respectively. We observe that the spectra of our prepared samples nicely match with that of the collected
sample.
P a g e | 40 Applied Research Journal Vol. 4, Issue, 2, pp.38-42, February, 2018

5
S1
4

0
S2
Transmittance (%)

0
S3
3

0
200 400 600 800 1000

Wavelength (nm)
Figure 2 UV-Vis spectra of the samples.

120

S1
100

80

60

40

20

S2
100
Transmittance (%)

80

60

40

20

S3
100

80

60

40

20
1000 2000 3000 4000

Wave number (cm -1)

Figure 3 FTIR spectra of the samples.


P a g e | 41 M. H. Ara Begum et. al.

3.3. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Analysis


Hitachi S3400 scanning electron microscope was employed to study the surface morphology of the samples.
Figure shows the SEM images obtained at 15 kV. The particles do not show clear boundaries which reveals
that the materials are in amorphous form. The results are shown in Figure 4 and Tables 1, 2.

S1 S2

S3

Figure 4 SEM micrographs of the samples.

Table 1 Moisture percentage, density and viscosity of the samples.


Sample ID Moisture (%) Density (gm/cm3) Viscosity (mPa.sec)
S1 22.11 1.425 6.77 (24.30C, 100.2 rpm)
S2 16.10 1.394 8.47 (25.10C, 100.2 rpm)
S3 21.25 1.445 3.22 (25.50C, 100.2 rpm)

Table 2 Elemental analysis of sodium silicate.


Sample ID Sodium (Na) Magnesium Iron (Fe) Iron oxide Sodium Carbon
% (Mg) ppm ppm (FeO) ppm hydroxide residue %
(NaOH) %
S1 24.07 11.5 10.01 12.86 41.81 0.021
S2 18.74 35.26 10.85 14.15 32.59 0.106
S3 45.22 190.85 20.05 25.73 78.64 0.025

4. CONCLUSION
In this study, rice husk ash, which has negative impact on our environment, was used to produce a value
added product sodium silicate solution. The principal object of this research and development (R&D) work
is to develop a simple and cost effective process for the production of sodium silicate as well as economic
P a g e | 42 Applied Research Journal Vol. 4, Issue, 2, pp.38-42, February, 2018

use of rice husk ash to save our currency. From the above discussion it may be concluded that we
successfully extracted sodium silicate form RHA and this process may be a promising technique for the
production of sodium silicate.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors acknowledge the overall support of Pilot Plant and Process Development Centre, BCSIR,
Bangladesh authority for the successful completion of this R&D work. The authors also acknowledge the
cooperation of scientists of Industrial Physics Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka and Institute of National
Analytical Service and Research, BCSIR, Bangladesh.

6. REFERENCES
[1] Flörke, O. W., Graetsch, H. A., Brunk, F., Benda, L., Paschen, S., Bergna, H. E., Roberts, W. O.,
Welsh, W. A., Libanati, C. (2008). Ettlinger, M., Kerner, D., Maier, M., Meon, W., Schmoll, R., Gies,
H. and Schiffmann, D. Silica, Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry.
[2] Adam, F., Balakrishnan, S., & Wong, P. L. (2006). Rice husk ash silica as a support material for
ruthenium based heterogenous catalyst. Journal of Physical Science, 17(2), 1-13.
[3] Della, V. P., Hotza, D., Junkes, J. A., & Oliveira, A. P. N. D. (2006). Comparative study of silica
obtained from acid leaching of rice husk and the silica obtained by thermal treatment of rice husk ash.
Química Nova, 29(6), 1175-1179.
[4] Niyomwas, S. (2017). Synthesis and characterization of silicon-silicon carbide composites from rice
husk ash via self-propagating high temperature synthesis. Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals,
19(2).
[5] Pavarajarn, V., Precharyutasin, R., & Praserthdam, P. (2010). Synthesis of silicon nitride fibers by the
carbothermal reduction and nitridation of rice husk ash. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 93(4),
973-979.
[6] Pivinskii, Y. E. (2007). Nanodisperse silica and some aspects of nanotechnologies in the field of silicate
materials science. Part 2. Refractories and Industrial ceramics, 48(6), 435-443.
[7] Tsai, M. S., Huang, P. Y., & Yang, C. H. (2006). Formation mechanisms of colloidal silica via sodium
silicate. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 8(6), 943-949.
[8] Islam, R., Montes, C., & Allouche, E. (2014). Correlation between Chemical and Phase Composition of
Fly Ash and Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Concrete. Int. J. Environ. Eng. Nat. Resour, 1(5),
235-239.
[9] de Sousa, A. M., Visconte, L., Mansur, C., & Furtado, C. (2009). Silica sol obtained from rice husk ash,
3(4), 321-326.

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