Extraction of silica from cassava periderm using modified sol-gel method

Abstract

Cassava peridem wastes are generated and disposed indiscriminately or burnt due to zero economic value. In this study, modified sol-gel synthesis of amorphous silica nanoparticles from cassava periderm (CP) was investigated. The wastes were pretreated with HCl to remove soluble metallic impurities. Both treated and untreated CP flakes were calcined at 700 o C to obtain their respective ashes. The ashes were leached with HCl to remove soluble metallic oxides and thereafter sol-gelled to obtain silica gel modified with ethylene glycol. The gel was dried at 80 o C for 18 hours and then characterized using SEM, EDX, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, TEM and PSA. The SEM micrographs showed that silica modified with ethylene glycol is less agglomerated with higher silica yield and lower particle sizes. All the silica produced showed similar functional groups and non-crystallinity. The silica nanoparticles could be used as starting materials for synthesis of silicon nanoparticles.

Silica from Natural Sources: a Review on the Extraction and Potential Application as a Supporting Photocatalytic Material for Antibacterial Activity

“…-Cassava Waste Multiple studies have been performed to increase the economic value of cassava waste because the result obtained is usually disposed of carelessly or burned (Adebisi et al, 2018;Adebisi et al, 2019;Farirai et al, 2021). Studies on the amorphous silica nanoparticles from the cassava periderm were successfully conducted using the modi ed sol-gel method.…”

Silica nanoparticles as novel sustainable approach for plant growth and crop protection

“…Nanotechnology, along with biotechnology, plays a significant role in the advancement of the agricultural field (Tubana et al, 2016). The ability of nanotechnology to detect and manage plant pathogens has proven beneficial to the agricultural industry, leading to increased livestock production (Adebisi et al, 2018). NPs, which are also very potent fertilizers for agricultural productivity, can be used to control pesticides and plant diseases (Adebisi et al, 2020).…”

Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) in sustainable agriculture: major emphasis on the practicality, efficacy and concerns

“…In this case, the powered rice husk mixed with NaOH is heated in the microwave oven (2.45 GHz, 600 W) for an hour to synthesize SiNPs, which were used as a sustainable fluorophore for white light emission. In a study conducted by Adebisi et al 49 modified sol-gel was used method for the preparation of SiNPs from the maize stalk. This method involves the acid treatment, calcination at 700 o C, modified sol-gel, and -post-filtration treatments.…”