MESOPOROUS MCM-41 SYNTHESISED FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTE RICE HUSK ASH AS A WATER STERILIZER

Mesoporous MCM-41 was produced from rice husk ash generated by a biomass fired power plant. Above 96 % of amorphous silica was extracted from rice husk ash by acid leaching. The R-MCM-41 was synthesized using sodium silicate prepared from rice husk ash and CTAB as an organic template. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h and then calcined at 550 °C for 4 h. The results from the XRD indicated the welldefined crystallinity of the synthesized MCM-41. The diameters determined from the Scanning Electron Micrographs of fine silica particles and the MCM-41 particles were approximately 50 μm and 0.3-0.5 μm, respectively. The BETsurface area of the R-MCM-2 141 particles determined from nitrogen adsorption isotherm was about 1102 m g