Silica is the major constituent of the rice husk ash. So precipitated silica production will not only provide value addition but also solve the problem of large amount of ash disposal generated from gasification process. With such a large ash content & silica content in the ash it becomes economical to extract silica from the ash, which has wide market & also takes care of ash disposal. Precipitated Silica (also called particulate silica) is composed of aggregates of ultimate particles of colloidal size that have not become linked in massive gel network during the preparation process.

Precipitated Silica Production

Silica is not a new commodity in the plastics market. Its usage as extenders and reinforcing fillers, as pozzolanic material and as glass microspheres for specific engineering applications are well known in the market. Because of its high silica and lignin content, rice husk is tough, woody and abrasive in nature with low nutritive properties and resistance to weathering. With growing environmental concern, open burning has been outlawed in many major rice-producing countries. 18% of the rice husk can be retrieved as ash after the gasification process. Silica content in ash is almost 90% and the rate of recovery of precipitated silica is 90-95% from the rice husk ash if the conversion efficiency is more than 70%. Rice hull ash (RHA) contains over 60% of silica which can be an economically viable raw material for the production of silica based products.

Silica generation is a separate independent process not dependent on electricity generation, although the input ash is dependent on gasification process. Provision will be taken in the design so that external ash is used also as input thus increase silica production.

Uses of Precipitated Silica

   Rubber industry – as a reinforcing agent

   Cosmetics

   Tooth pastes – as a cleansing agent

   Food industry – as an anti-caking agent

   Paints – as a filler

The distinguishing feature of the growth of precipitated silica industry in India is that it has classifiably flourished in the small scale sector. Readily available new materials low capital investment & high rates of return offer a distinct advantage to the small scale manufacturers to venture into this field. There is a very good scope in this sector.

Few Indian Major Players are as under:

   Gujarat Multi Gas Base Chemicals Private Limited,

   Mumbai Manswill Chemicals Private Limited

   Wellink Chemical Industrial Company Limited,

   Nanping Insilco Limited

   Famous Minerals and Chemicals Private Limited

   Gujarat Silicon Pvt. Ltd.

   Niir Project Consultancy Services (NPCS) can provide Detailed Project Report on Precipitated Silica from Rice Husk Ash

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