Green Synthesis, Optimization and Extraction of Silica from Rice Straw Ash for Solar Cells

Abstract

In recent times, there has been an increased clamor for the development of sustainable technologies which will focus on environmental sustainability. More and more, agricultural waste is being explored for sustainable environmental solutions. In the light of this, this research focuses on the optimization of rice straw ash for silica extraction using Box-Behnken approach. The interactions of three variables studied were: Rice Straw (RS): 3- 6 g; Time: 3-6 h and Temperature: 400-600 C. The rice straw was subjected to proximate analysis. X-Ray Florescence (XRF) was used to characterize ashes to get the most purified silica. The silica from result of XRF and the silica gotten via the optimal predicted silica which was validated were subjected to FTIR. SEM and an X-Ray Diffractometer were used to analyze the best (XRD). The result of proximate analysis showed that ash was present. The XRF result of most purified silica was at Temp: 600 C, RS:4 g and time: 6 h. FTIR result showed that more stretching of gel network was observed in silica via the validated experiment. The XRD analysis revealed a highly reactive amorphous silica. Agglomerated colloidal spheres of nano silica were also visible in SEM. It was concluded that rice straw is a good biowaste for extraction of silica for modern technological applications and solar cells.