Conversion of Bagasse Ash Waste to Nanosized SiC Powder

Abstract

In this work, sugarcane bagasse ash (BA) was used as a low-cost starting material for synthesizing nanosized SiC powder as an alternative to existing techniques for utilizing ever increasing amounts of industrial BA wastes. Fine SiC powder was SHS-produced from BA–C–Mg mixtures and characterized by XRD and SEM. The product powder was found to contain SiC, MgO, and a minor amount of Mg₂SiO₄. Unwanted MgO and Mg₂SiO₄ were leached out with acid solutions. The leached product represented the agglomerated powder of nanoparticles with a mean size of about 50 nm. Our approach can help not only to diminish harmful effects caused by ash disposal but also to suggest a cost-effective process for production of fine SiC powder.