Effects of Extraction Temperature and Time on the Physical Properties of Soluble Sodium Silicate from Rice Husk Ash

In this research, soluble sodium silicate was extracted from rice husk ash. Rice husk in its as-received state was initially burnt in an open air to obtain the rice husk ash (RHA), which was later thermally treated inside the muffle furnace at 600°C for 5hrs to remove the carbonaceous matter and increase the silica (SiO 2) content. The thermally treated RHA was later mixed with 3M NaOH as soda source and heated with continuous stirring inside a heating glass vessel placed in a thermostatic water bath at 70°C for 4hrs, 80°C for 3hrs, and 90°C for 2hrs respectively. Physical analyses such as Viscosity, PH, Specific gravity, and Electrical conductivity were carried out on the extracted sodium silicate which was compared with the reference sodium silicate sample.