Mindoro Harvest Energy Company Inc.

Sta. Isabel, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

Rice Husk Ash Utilization

By:
Jamaica V. Noble Pet.Engr.
Fuel Management Asst.
MHECO Inc.
Rice husk (RH) is one of the most widely available agricultural wastes in many rice
producing countries around the world. It is majorly prevalent in South-East Asia because
of the high rice production in this area due to its fertile and tropical climate.

During milling of paddy, about 80% of weight is received as rice, broken rice and bran.
Rest 20% of the weight of paddy is received as husk. RH contains 75-90% organic matter
(cellulose, lignin, etc.) and rest mineral components (silica, alkali) and trace elements. A
typical analysis of RH is shown in table 1. The content of each constituent depends on
rice variety, soil chemistry, climatic conditions and even the geographical location.
The rice milling industry generates a lot of RH that creates disposal problem due to its
less commercial interest. The handling and transportation is also a problem due to its low
density. Thus, the RH is mostly used as a fuel in the boilers (to generate steam for the
parboiling process) for processing of paddy.

When rice husk is burnt, Rice Husk Ash (RHA) is generated. On burning, cellulose and
lignin are removed leaving behind silica ash. Under controlled conditions (temperature
and environment) the burning yields better quality of RHA determined by particle size and
surface area. Completely burnt RHA is grey to white color, while partially burnt RHA is
blackish.

RHA is an environmental threat causing damage to land and surrounding area where it
is dumped. The improper disposal may cause pollution in addition to being a health and
traffic hazard. Therefore, commercial use of RH and its ash is the alternative solution to
disposal problem (Kumar et al 2012). It is estimated that for every 1000 kgs of paddy
milled, about 200 kgs of husk is produced, and when this husk is burnt in the boilers,
about 50kgs of RHA is generated.

Table 1. Typical Analysis of Rice Husk

Property Range
Bulk density (kg/m3) 96-160
 Hardness (Mohr’s scale) 5-6
Ash 22-29
Carbon 35
Hydrogen 4-5
Oxygen 31-37
Nitrogen 0.23-0.32
Sulphur 0.04-0.08
Moisture 8-9

The use of RHA mainly depends on chemical composition of ash predominantly silica
content in it. Due to presence of large silica content in ash, extraction of silica is possible.
There is a growing demand for fine amorphous silica in the production of special cement
and concrete mixes, high performance concrete, for use in bridges, marine environments,
nuclear power plants etc.

The ash generated in rice husk combustion has potential economic applications in a
variety of sectors. However, the properties of rice husk ash (RHA) are strongly dependent
on the combustion method used. This study investigates the physical, chemical, thermal,
mineralogical, and morphological characteristics of three types of RHA, produced
according to three distinct methods (grate furnace, fluidized bed, and
suspension/entrained combustion). The result confirmed that the combustion conditions
define the characteristics of each RHA, even though the raw material used was
essentially the same. The main differences in the characteristics of the silica obtained
were observed in the parameters specific surface area.

Characteristics of Rice husk Ash

Characteristics such as the structural form of silica (amorphous or crystalline), purity, and
surface area are strongly correlated with the combustion technology and conditions
(residence time and temperature). High carbon levels and low degrees of combustion
completeness produced black RHA. In turn, when RH is almost completely burned the
RHA obtained is greyish, white or purple, in functions of the contaminants present and
combustion conditions (such as 1000°C as maximum temperature) residual ash
composed by crystalline silica is formed at 800°C. Lower temperatures of up to 700°C
normally produced amorphous silica.

Applications of Rice husk Ash

RHA has been extensively used in the development of several materials in a variety of
settings, such as adsorbent to remove hexavalent chromium or coloring agents from
waste waters. Other applications include the use as pozzolanic agent, filler and binder
material in civil construction, and as raw material in the production of pure silica. RHA is
a low-cost ingredient in the production of advanced ceramic materials like silicon carbide
(SiC), Silicon nitride (Si3N4), and even high –purity metallic silicon. It is also used as
replacement strengthening agent in polymers and in glass and refractory materials, as
foundation in catalyst beds, and a raw material in the production of zeolites.
Chandrasekhar et al. underline the fast that these distinct applications require specific
properties such as high reactivity with cement (when RHA is used in construction
materials), good purity levels (in the synthesis of advanced materials), appropriate grain
size (when RHA is employed as loading agent in polymer production), and high surface
area and porosity (when absorption and catalytic properties are demanded).

Rice Husk Ash as Fertilizer

These husks are burned as biomass fuel to generate electricity, but the problem remains
of how to deal with the remaining ashes, which amount to 20 percent of the original
volume. This new technology contributes to making effective use of these ashes.

When rice husks are burned at high temperatures, the silicic acid that accounts for over
90 percent of the ash becomes insoluble, precluding its use as a fertilizer. However, rice
husks burned at low temperatures (around 500 degrees Celsius) make a useful fertilizer
that contains highly soluble amorphous silicic acid. Applying this ash fertilizer to paddy
fields increases the concentration of silicic acid in the soil, yielding a rich harvest of rice.
This technology raises expectations for the effective use of both heat energy and rice
husk ashes.
Rice Husk Ash as Partial replacement for Cement
The preliminary and inevitable interest in the use of partial replacements or by – products
as complementary pozzolanic materials was mostly induced by enforcement of air
pollution control resulted from cement production industry. Rise husk is by- product taken
from rice mill process, with approximately the ratio of 200 kg per one ton of rice, even in
high temperature it reduces to 40 kg. This paper presents benefits resulted from various
ratios of rice husk ash(RHA) on concrete indicators through 5 mixture plans with
proportions of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% RHA by weight of cement in addition to 10% micro-
silica (MS) to be compared with a reference mixture with 100% Portland cement. The
positive relationship between 15% replacement of RHA with increase in compressive
strengths by about 20%. The optimum level of strength and durability properties generally
gain with addition up to 20%, beyond that is associated with slight decrease in strength
parameters by about 4.5%. The same results obtained for water absorption ratios likely
to be unfavorable. Chloride ions penetration increased with increase in cement
replacement by about 25% relative to the initial values (about less than one fifth).

Table 2. Chemical and Physical Properties of OPC and RHA.

Oxide Composition (%percent by mass) OPC RHA

SiO2 20.99 88.32

Al2O3 6.19 0.46

Fe2O 3.86 0.67

CaO 65.96 0.67

MgO 0.22 0.44

Na2O3 0.17 0.12

K2O 0.60 2.91

LOI 1.73 5.81

Specific Gravity 2.94 2.11

Rice Husk Ash as Filler

Silica is the predominant component of the ash with trace amounts of various elements
such as potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium (<0.5%). The major impurity is in
the form of trapped carbon, where temperature has a significant effect on the carbon
content of the rice hull ash, and hence it is reported that type and purity of silica ash can
vary with production conditions. It is understood that characteristics such as a fine particle
size (<50 micron) and high reactivity (due to its irregular shape, porosity and presence of
surface hydroxyl groups) mar the performance of silica ash as a filler. Also, impurities
reduce its efficiency as filler in composites. The impurity level of silica is significantly
affected by the production mode. With open air burning, a variety of silica ash can be
produced with acceptable level of carbon impurities.

Physical properties such as topography, shape, and size are known to affect the filler
reinforcing character in any resin. The particle morphology affects the extent of surface
modification and particle size is well correlated with its aggregation tendencies and could
also be linked to its dispersive nature. Once an understanding of the particle
characteristics is achieved, it is easier to correlate the composite mechanical properties
with the microscopic particle properties. Silica ash has a large particle size 285(∼50
microns), irregular shape and porous structure and these characteristics make it a difficult
contender for filler packing and efficient silanation.

Rice husk Ash as Silica Source

The relative amount of silica was increased after burning out the carbonaceous material
at different times and temperatures. A 95% silica powder could be produced after heat-
treating at 700 °C for 6 h. The specific surface area of particles was increased after wet
milling from 54 to 81 m2/g.