Abstract:
The aim of the investigation is to develop nano-crystalline forsterite by utilizing amorphous
silica and magnesia through solid-state route. Amorphous silica was yielded from burning
of biomass, i.e. rice husk (RH). The precursor and powders were subjected to calcination
for a temperature range of 700–1000 ◦C and evolution of forsterite phase was characterized
using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that by increasing temperature around
1000 ◦C, magnesia and amorphous silica were absolutely consumed and turned into a single
forsterite phase. Crystal size was calculated by XRD analysis (80–85nm) and particle size
was determined by SEM micrograph analysis, which reveals that prepared powder consist
particles with nearly spherical morphology, and mean particle size of 265nm.
