The Production of Biogenic Silica from Different South African Agricultural Residues through a Thermo-Chemical Treatment Method

Ncamisile Nondumiso Maseko, Denise Schneider, Susan Wassersleben, Dirk Enke, Samuel Ayodele Iwarere, Jonathan Pocock and Annegret Stark
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Ncamisile Nondumiso Maseko: Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 238 Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban 4041, South Africa
Denise Schneider: 3P Instruments GmbH & Co. KG, Rudolf-Diesel-Str. 12, 85235 Odelzhausen, Germany
Susan Wassersleben: Institute of Chemical Technology, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstr. 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Dirk Enke: Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 238 Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban 4041, South Africa
Samuel Ayodele Iwarere: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Jonathan Pocock: Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 238 Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban 4041, South Africa
Annegret Stark: Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 238 Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban 4041, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: A thermo-chemical treatment method was used to produce biogenic amorphous silica from South African sugarcane and maize residues. Different fractions of South African sugarcane (leaves, pith, and fiber) were processed for silica production. The biomass samples were leached with either 7 wt% citric acid or 7 wt% sulfuric acid at 353 K for 2 h prior to being rinsed, dried and combusted using a four-step program ranging from room temperature to 873 K in a furnace. The characterization of the pre-treated biomass samples was conducted using thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) and elemental analysis (CHN), while the final products were characterized by XRF, X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, nitrogen physisorption and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Citric acid pre-treatment proved to be an attractive alternative to mineral acids. Amorphous biogenic silica was produced from sugarcane leaves in good quality (0.1 wt% residual carbon and up to 99.3 wt% silica content). The produced biogenic silica also had great textural properties such as a surface area of up to 323 m 2 g −1 , average pore diameter of 5.0 nm, and a pore volume of 0.41 cm 3 g −1 .

Keywords: biogenic amorphous silica; green chemistry; maize leaves; sugarcane fiber; sugarcane leaves; sugarcane pith (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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