Synthesis of mesoporous silica from geothermal water

Mesoporous silica was successfully synthesized for the first time using geothermal water from the Onuma Geothermal Power Plant, Akita Prefecture, Japan. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as an organic template for the synthesis. CTAB with a concentration of 2.4 x 10(-4) mol/L was reacted for 30 min with geothermal water at a temperature of 90 degrees C, which had a total silicic acid concentration of 475 mg/L (SiO2), at pH 7.0, pH 8.2 (raw water) and pH 9.0. By calcination of the resulting precipitate at 550 degrees C, mesoporous silica with a pore size of about 2.8 nm and a specific surface area of > 800 m(2)/g was formed. The total silicic acid concentration in the solution after formation of the mesoporous precipitates was reduced to < 280 mg/L, indicating efficient recovery of supersaturated silicic acid from geothermal water. The monosilicic acid in geothermal water plays an important role in the formation of mesoporous silica. Production of mesoporous silica by our method will contribute not only to prevention of silica scale formation in the piping systems of geothermal power plants but also to its use as an industrial resource.

Automated summary

Mesoporous silica was successfully synthesized using geothermal water from the Onuma Geothermal Power Plant in Japan for the first time. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as an organic template for the synthesis, resulting in efficient recovery of supersaturated silicic acid from the geothermal water. The monosilicic acid in geothermal water plays a crucial role in the formation of mesoporous silica, which can contribute to preventing silica scale formation in geothermal power plant piping systems and serve as an industrial resource.