The invention discloses a method for preparing a composite
silicon-based
aerogel by using iron
tailings as a
raw material. The method comprises the following steps: mixing iron tailing
powder with
sodium hydroxide particles and performing an alkali
dissolution reaction at a high temperature; after cooling, mixing a
reaction product with water, and carrying out heating and stirring; then carrying out filtering, and uniformly mixing a filtrate with a water glass solution; performing
ion exchange via a strong-acid cation exchange resin; dropwise adding an
ammonia-water solution into a mixed liquid obtained after
ion exchange so as to adjust a pH value; after a block gel is formed, immersing the block gel in a gel aging solution for standing and aged, and then taking out a formed wet
sol; andsuccessively subjecting the obtained wet
sol to
surface modification by a modification liquid and
solvent exchange with n-
hexane, and then carrying out normal-pressure
drying so as to obtain the composite
silicon-based
aerogel. According to the invention,
solid wastes such as iron
tailings are used as raw materials, so the
aerogel has low price; preparation conditions are mild; requirements on equipment are low; industrialization can be easily implemented; and the prepared composite
silicon-based aerogel has a tap density of 0.175 g / cm<3> or less, an average pore size of no more than 40 nm anda
porosity of 93% or more.