Synthesis of nano-crystalline forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) powder from biomass rice husk silica by solid-state route

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 (80-85 nm) 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 265 nm.