Silicate Preparation from Plant Ash Using Multivalent Anion Salt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional processes for producing silicates and precipitated silica from plant ashes, such as rice husk ash, face challenges in dissolving crystalline silica, leading to low yields and energy-intensive high-temperature requirements, and struggle with separating silica from impurities.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the reaction of plant ash with an alkali metal hydroxide in a reaction mixture containing a dispersing medium and a salt comprising a multivalent anion, which improves the dissolution of both amorphous and crystalline silica, allowing for effective separation of silica from impurities and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional processes are used to dissolve crystalline silica from plant ash, then the process can be simple, but the dissolution yield is low and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
A salt containing a multivalent anion (such as citrate, oxalate, or EDTA) is introduced as an intermediary substance to facilitate the dissolution of crystalline silica. The multivalent anion forms complexation reactions with metal ions in the silica structure, weakening the Si-O-Si bonds and enabling more efficient dissolution at lower temperatures, thereby resolving the contradiction between yield and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the reaction system by introducing salts with multivalent anions having different complexation capabilities. This allows optimization of dissolution conditions at moderate temperatures, achieving high conversion yields without requiring the high energy input of conventional fusion processes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plant ash is used as a renewable resource instead of sand, then environmental sustainability is improved, but the presence of crystalline silica makes dissolution difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The salt containing multivalent anion acts as a chemical intermediary that bridges the gap between the renewable plant ash resource and the desired silicate product. The multivalent anion's complexation ability specifically targets the recalcitrant crystalline silica, making the renewable resource actually usable and resolving the contradiction between sustainability and manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical environment through additive salts, the invention transforms the difficult-to-dissolve crystalline silica into a readily soluble form, enabling the practical utilization of renewable plant ash resources while maintaining environmental sustainability
3Productivity
If high temperatures are used to dissolve crystalline silica, then dissolution efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multivalent anion salt serves as a chemical mediator that enables dissolution at lower temperatures by forming soluble complexes. This intermediary mechanism achieves high dissolution efficiency through chemical facilitation rather than thermal energy input, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal-mechanical dissolution mechanism (high-temperature heating) with a chemical mechanism (complexation reactions). This substitution allows achieving the same dissolution efficiency through chemical affinity rather than thermal energy, thereby reducing energy consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process enhances silica conversion yields, reduces energy requirements, and achieves higher purity silica production while utilizing a renewable resource, making it environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
reacting said plant ash with a base in the presence of an additive which is a salt comprising a multivalent anion
Implementation Method 2
preparing a silicate from a plant ash... by reacting said plant ash with a base
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for producing a silicate from a plant ash comprising crystalline silica. The process comprises reacting said plant ash with a base in the presence of an additive which is a salt comprising a multivalent anion. The invention also relates to a silicate obtainable from said process and to a process for preparing a precipitated silica from said silicate. The invention also concerns a reaction mixture which can be used for said processes.