UTILIZATION OF MELON SEED HUSK IN THE PREPARATION OF AMORPHOUS MESOPOROUS SILICA NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

This study synthesized and characterized amorphous mesoporous silica from melon seed husk/chaff ash using a simple Sol–gel synthesis technique. The results indicate that a high yield of amorphous silica nanoparticles, comprising 87.02% silica with minimal mineral contaminants, can be achieved from MSHA using this straightforward technique. The synthesized amorphous mesoporous silica was characterized using, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The microstructural analysis reveals that the unit size of the extracted silica nanoparticles is between 52 and 73nm, the XRD patterns reveal the amorphous nature of the extracted amorphous Silica, EDX confirmed the presence of SiO2, while FTIR analysis shows the existence of silanol and siloxane groups. This contribution to knowledge underscores the importance of exploring innovative approaches to utilize agricultural waste materials effectively while simultaneously advancing materials science and environmental sustainability.