J Mater Sci Technol ›› 2003, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (06): 599-603.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characterization of a Mineral Synthesized by Availing Silica from Plant Source

M.Sharif Nizami   

  1. Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR) Labs. Complex, Lahore-54600, Pakistan
  • Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2003-11-28 Published:2009-10-10
  • Contact: M.Sharif Nizami

Abstract: Rice husk was used to prepare the silica of amorphous nature being several times more reactive than that obtained from the mineral kingdom. Number of rice husk batches were pyroprocessed under varying time-temperature parameters for this purpose. The ash resulting from a batch pyroprocessed at 500ºC for 8 h contained 92.01% silica. It was upgraded to 98.50% by applying physicochemical purification procedures. The mineral, wollastonite (CaSiO3), was synthesized from thus prepared silica and limestone containing 55.91% CaO. Solid state reaction, between CaO and SiO2 was attempted at different temperatures in the presence of a mineralizer. The sintering temperature, for affecting the said synthesis, was ranged between 900ºC to 1300ºC with the steps of 100ºC. Specific chemical analysis techniques were applied to determine the effectiveness of carried out reaction and promising batches were subsequently subjected to XRD investigations. The produced mineral was also characterized regarding its physical properties like: colour, hardness, melting point and specific gravity. Percent yield of the produced wollastonite was also estimated and compared with that of obtained by other researchers who synthesized it by using silica from mineral kingdom. Batches sintered at 1200ºC and 1300ºC for 1 h showed the overall best results.

Key words: Mineral, Silica, Sintering, Wollastonite