Optimising the Yield of Silicon Carbide Synthesised from Indigenous Biomass Husk using Different Catalysts

Khalil Ahmad, Muhammad Ali, At

Abstract

Biomass husk is a cost effective source to produce silicon based ceramics. Present work deals with the catalytic synthesis of silicon carbide from biomass husk of indigenous rice as raw materials. Rice husk samples were treated with different concentrations of sodium silicate, 40% hydrochloric acid and a mixture of 40% HCl and 2 gl-1 Na2SiO3. Treated husk were pyrolysed at 1350°C in argon atmosphere and then oxidised to eliminate unreacted carbon. Products were characterised by XRD, SEM and EDS techniques in order to confirm the carbide formation, to identify carbide morphology and to conduct elemental analysis respectively.Maximum yield was obtained in case of catalytic treatment with 2 gl-1 Na2SiO3. Acid treatment, although showed no considerable increase in yield, fostered whiskers formation instead of particles.