Development of Silica Nanoparticle from Corn Cob Ash

Silica from corn cob ash (CCA) was extracted via sol-gel, and nanostructured with templating concept, these resulted in silica nanoparticle. Silica and mineral contents of CCA were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed amorphous nature of extracted silica. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data indicated the presence of siloxane and silanol groups. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of nanostrurtured silica reviled average particle size of 54 nm, Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) study indicates the particles to possess disorder morphology with the particle attached to each other through grain boundary to form agglomerated structure, and SEM analysis shows that particle size varies from 44 nm - 98 nm in diameter, with an average diameter of 55nm. EDS spectrum confirms SiO2.