Abstract:
In the agricultural countries, rice husk is an abundant waste, especially as one of the
largest sources of silica (SiO2) production that can be produced. By complete combustion, to
about 87% - 97% SiO2 content can be produced from rice husks. Alkaline solution is used as a
solvent in the solid-liquid extraction process of rice husk ash. The mass of 10 grams of rice
husk ash was weighed for the extraction process added with 80 ml of potassium hydroxide
(KOH) solution with 10%, 15% and 20% various concentration for 60 minutes to extract the
SiO2 content. The solution was added with 1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution to precipitate
the SiO2, after the extraction process was complete. The SiO2 formed is then separated from
the rest of the solution by filtration. Next step is the drying process which aims to remove the
moisture content of the resulting SiO2. In a systematic study, for 60 minutes the rice husks
were soaked and washed using HCl and then heated in a muffle furnace. The results of this
study showed that all samples are succeeded in homogenizing SiO2 with a purity close to 90%.
Furthermore, through X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis was proven these results obtained
through solid-liquid extraction of KOH from rice husks. Green SiO2, known as biosilica, is
useful and has potential in reinforcing compounds, including applications as filler in tires and
natural rubber compounds.
