Synthesis of Low Density and High Purity Silica Xerogels from South African Sugarcane Leaves without the Usage of a Surfactant

Ncamisile Nondumiso Maseko (), Dirk Enke, Samuel Ayodele Iwarere (), Oluwatobi Samuel Oluwafemi and Jonathan Pocock
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Ncamisile Nondumiso Maseko: Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 238 Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban 4041, South Africa
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
Oluwatobi Samuel Oluwafemi: Department of Chemical Sciences (Formerly Applied Chemistry), University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
Jonathan Pocock: Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 238 Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban 4041, South Africa

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Sugarcane leaves were used to produce high-purity and low-density silica xerogels through a sol–gel method. The biogenic silica produced through a thermochemical method was reacted with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form sodium silicate and the produced sodium silicate was titrated with 1 M citric acid to form silica gel. The formed silica gel was washed, subjected to a solvent exchange process and later dried at 80 °C to produce low-density and high-purity silica xerogels. The produced xerogels were characterized with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption, elemental analysis (CHNS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The produced silica xerogels had an amorphous structure and purity of 99.9 wt%. In addition, the textural properties analysis showed that the xerogel has a BET surface area of 668 m 2 ·g −1 , an average pore diameter of 7.5 nm, a pore volume of 1.26 cm 3 ·g −1 and a density of 0.23 g·cm −3 .

Keywords: xerogel; sugarcane leaves; sol–gel method; amorphous biogenic silica; value added material; solvent exchange (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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