CHARACTERIZATION OF WHEAT HUSK ASH AND CALCINED EGGSHELL AS POTENTIAL GLASS FORMER

Abstract

Numerous agricultural byproducts, such as rice husk and straw, bagasse from sugar cane, palm kernel shell, wheat husk and straw, corn cobs, etc, are highly desired for the production of renewable energy and are seen as potential raw materials for high-value products. Because they can be used to extract quality silica and Calcium oxide for borosilicate glass production, this research has demonstrated that these wastes have a significant end value. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) were used to characterize the calcined waste eggshell and wheat husk ash for crystal type, compound identification, and chemical composition. The findings demonstrated that the amount of silica and calcium oxide obtained from agricultural waste could be a suitable alternative source for making glass, with calcined eggshells having a calcium oxide content of 91.7% and wheat husk ash having a silica content of 71.3%. The potential for utilizing the CaO and amorphous silica in the formation of glass is thus intriguing.