Galuh Pinayungan

27 Desember 2011

Undergraduate Student

Chemical Engineering Department, Gadjah Mada University

Research Title

Optimization of Silica Extraction from Baggase Fly Ash using Alkali Fusion Method

Research Outline:

Source of silica in Indonesia is relatively abundant both silica contained in quartz or in amorphous form. The production of silica from quartz sand is not economical and promising. One of the most promising methods to produce silica is silica extraction from biomass wastes such as baggase fly ash. Silica contained in the remains of biomass (plants) mostly in the form of amorphous silica.

One method to extract silica from baggase fly ash is Alkali Fusion method. Alkali fusion is a dry process method for extracting silica. Alkali fusion method based by reacting baggase fly ash with NaOH powder at high temperatures. This research aims to determine the variables that influence extraction of silica with alkali fusion, so that the optimization can be done. Variables to be studied in this research are the weight ratio of NaOH and baggase fly ash, BFA treatment temperature, and the weight ratio of water used to extract silica in the form of Sodium Silicate solution.