Study of Rice Husk Ash as Potential Source of Acid Resistance Calcium Silicate

Abstract

In present work acid resistant calcium silicate has been synthesized from silica of rice husk and calcium oxide of analytical grade. The silica from rice husk was extracted at 550oC in amorphous form and then allowed to react with calcium oxide in the presence of excess water by Sol-Gel technique to obtain calcium silicate hydrate gels. The molar ratios of Si/Ca were adjusted each time to obtain silica rich calcium silicate hydrates. The gels were dried in oven and calcined in muffle furnace at various temperatures to obtain acid resistant calcium silicate. The products were tested by analytical technique and by FTIR and XRD machines. Studies show that at higher molar ratio of Si/Ca, the heat treatment improves the acid resistivity of calcium silicate whereas at lower molar ratios the heat treatment does not make it acid resistant.