Composition and structure of amorphous silica produced from rice husk and straw

We have studied amorphous silica samples prepared by a thermal method and precipitation from rice processing waste: straw and grain shells (husk and peelings). We have determined their true and bulk densities, silica content, and sorbed water vapor content. The porosity of the samples has been evaluated by different techniques: nitrogen desorption (Barrett-Joyner-Halenda method) and adsorption (BET analysis), water vapor adsorption, sorption of organic dyes (methylene blue and brilliant green), and positron annihilation spectroscopy. The effect of the nature of raw materials and processing procedure on the physicochemical properties of amorphous silica is examined.