| My current interest is in adsorption
and catalytic studies from solution using agricultural waste
as the adsorbent/catalyst. Specifically my interest is centered
in the use of rice husk ash (RHA) as the adsorbent and as
a heterogeneous catalyst. Some significant results have been
obtained recently.
Rice husk as a source of silica have been investigated
for some time now. Most researchers report the isolation
of rice husk silica by open burning or burning the husk
in furnaces to obtain the ash. The ash obtained contains
up to 96 % silica depending on the geographical location
and the soil type of the paddy fields from where the husk
originate. We have developed a solution state extraction
procedure that eliminates the burning to extract the silica
from rice husk. This process yields highly pure silica and
in excellent yield and the whole process is carried out
at room temperature.
The catalytic activity of rice husk silica as well as transition
metal incorporated rice husk silica is being studied. This
study involves the synthesis and the physical and chemical
characterization of the potential catalyst. This will be
followed by evaluation of the catalyst in various types
of organic and inorganic reactions. Some interesting recent
discoveries from my group are presented below.
|
