Rice husk waste into various template-engineered mesoporous silica materials for different applications: A comprehensive review on recent developments

Following the discovery of Sto spacing diaeresis ber silica, the realm of morphology-controlled mesoporous silica nanomaterials like MCM-41, SBA-15, and KCC-1 has been expanded. Due to their high BET surface area, tunable pores, easiness of functionalization, and excellent thermal and chemical stability, these materials take part a vital role in the advancement of techniques and technologies for tackling the world's largest challenges in the area of water and the environment, energy storage, and biotechnology. Synthesizing these materials with excellent physico-chemical properties from cost-efficient biomass wastes is a foremost model of sustainability. Particularly, SiO2 with a purity >98% can be obtained from rice husk (RH), one of the most abundant biomass wastes, and can be template engineered into various forms of mesoporous silica materials in an economic and eco-friendly way. Hence, this review initially gives insight into why to valorize RH into value-added silica materials. Then the thermal, chemical, hydrothermal, and biological methods of high-quality silica extraction from RH and the principles of synthesis of mesoporous and fibrous mesoporous silica materials like SBA-15, MCM-41, MSNs, and KCC-1 are comprehensively discussed. The potential applications of rice husk-derived mesoporous silica materials in catalysis, drug delivery, energy, adsorption, and environmental remediation are explored. Finally, the conclusion and the future outlook are briefly highlighted.

Automated summary

The discovery of Sto spacing diaeresis ber silica has expanded the realm of morphology-controlled mesoporous silica nanomaterials such as MCM-41, SBA-15, and KCC-1. These materials play a vital role in advancing techniques and technologies for addressing global challenges in water and the environment, energy storage, and biotechnology due to their high BET surface area, tunable pores, ease of functionalization, and excellent thermal and chemical stability. Synthesizing these materials from cost-efficient biomass wastes, particularly rice husk, is a sustainable model. This review discusses the valorization of rice husk into value-added silica materials, methods of high-quality silica extraction, and the synthesis principles of various mesoporous silica materials. The potential applications in catalysis, drug delivery, energy, adsorption, and environmental remediation are explored.