CONVERSION OF RICE HUSK ASH INTO MESOPOROUS MATERIALS

Mesoporous molecular sieves in the hexagonal phase (SBA16) are synthesized from rice husk ash (R.H.A.) solutions using Pluronic F127 as template and R.H.A. as silica source. It is found that R.H.A. effectively transformed into mesoporous materials depending upon the hydrothermal conditions. It is also found that a high concentration of Na+ ions is not critical in the formation of SBA16 when prepared under controlled pH of gel, calcinations temperature and calcinations duration conditions. We provide direct evidence of SBA16. Our results resembles that coal combustion byproducts can be utilized for producing mesoporous molecular sieves even if containing significant amounts of impurities. The highest crystalline and well defined phase purity SBA16 is obtained without hydrothermal treatment in short interval of time.