1Industrial and Production Engineering Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
2Environmental and Earth Sciences Division, Center for Energy Research and Development, O.A.U, Ife, Nigeria
Online published on 19 September, 2014.
The aim of this research is to determine the effect of Oxalic acid on rice husk. Rice husk was collected from Osun State, Nigeria. Two methods of rice husk namely: Raw rice husk (RRH) and Leached rice husk (LRH) were subjected to thermal treatment at 7000C by varying the combustion time of 1-6h to determine the effect of time on the type of silica produced. The treated and untreated rice husks ash was then analysed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Favourable results were obtained from XRD patterns at 3h indicated that oxalic acid treated rice husk ash (LRHA) produced amorphous silica of good quality. However, specific surface area of the particle analysis at 3h, indicated the highest amount of 16.82mm2/g and also the SEM presented appropriated morphological characteristics of the best silica.
Rice husk, Oxalic Acid, Specific Surface Area, XRD, Amorphous Silica, Oxalic Acid, Characterisation, Leaching
