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

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 (80–85 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.