Synthesis and Characterization of Rice Husk Ash Derived - Silica Aerogel Beads Prepared by Ambient Pressure Drying

Low density silica aerogel beads were synthesized from rice husk ash via sodium silicate route. The gel beads were prepared by the ball dropping method and dried at ambient pressure after surface modification (silylation) with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) solution. The characteristics of porous structure of silica aerogel beads were measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption and desorption method. The silica aerogel beads showed a specific surface area as high as 773 m2/g. They also displayed water-repellant effect (hydrophobic) due to silylation as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).