Extraction of silica from rice hulls using a simple electric furnace

Date

4-1996

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Demetrio A Yco, Jr.

Abstract

A simple electric furnace that can produce silica from rice hull has been designed and constructed. The furnace, with a heater, that is rated 1.9 Kilowatts, with a total resistance of 6.1 ohms and a current of 18 Amperes, operates at 110 AC Volt power source. Using the electric furnace, the time, temperature of the furnace and of the rice hull, the air requirement for complete combustion, and the rate of ash production were analyzed and correlated. The elemental composition of the ash obtained were analyzed. Five set-ups were designed and implemented. All set-ups were able to reduce rice hull to white ash. Three of the five samples were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy. Results of this analysis showed that silica dominates in the samples obtained. Other elements were detected but they were found to be in a very minimal amount compared with the dominance of silica. Among the five set-ups, the fourth set-up, which consisted of a closed furnace, with small holes as exhaust and operated with natural draught of air, was the best for it was able to produce silica in greatest amount as compared to what the others produced. Using two type K thermocouples, the temperatures of the furnace and the rice hull were noted after every five minutes in all the experiments. The data obtained were analyzed and correlated. The trends in the change in the temperature of the furnace and the rice hull bed with respect to time were analyzed. It was found out that the change in temperature of the furnace with respect to time followed a certain power function, log (Y) = B * log(X) + A while the relationship between the temperature of the furnace and time followed a logarithmic equation which is of the form, = B * log(X) + A where the Y is the temperature, X is the time and A and B are constants. From the study, the constructed furnace can be compared with other existing silica producing furnace. The constructed furnace is by far better in terms of cost of construction, and time and output production. The furnace was constructed from less expensive materials but was able to produce silica in a short time as three hours as compared to the six hour production of other furnace.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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