International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 10,October 2012)

Properties and Industrial Applications of Rice husk: A review

Ajay kumar1, Kalyani Mohanta2, Devendra Kumar3 and Om Parkash4
1

Research Scholar, 2Associate Professor, 3 Professor, 4 Professor, Department of Ceramic Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India II. PROPERTIES

Abstract The technological trend towards waste utilization and cost reduction in industrial processing has attracted use of Rice Husk as a value added material. Both rice husk (RH) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) has been found suitable for wide range of domestic as well as industrial applications. Considering the importance and increasing demand of this material, a systematic study based on properties and industrial applications has been carried out and reviewed in this paper. Potential and suitability of RH for use in possible new areas in near future has also been highlighted. Keywords Rice Husk; Rice ceramic composite;

metallurgy I. INTRODUCTION Rice husk is one of the most widely available agricultural wastes in many rice producing countries around the world. Globally, approximately 600 million tons of rice paddy is produced each year. On average 20% of the rice paddy is husk, giving an annual total production of 120 million tones [1]. In majority of rice producing countries much of the husk produced from processing of rice is either burnt or dumped as waste [2]. Burning of RH in ambient atmosphere leaves a residue, called rice husk ash. For every 1000 kgs of paddy milled , about 220 kgs ( 22 % ) of husk is produced, and when this husk is burnt in the boilers , about 55 kgs ( 25 % ) of RHA is generated[3]. Rice husk removal during rice refining, creates disposal problem due to less commercial interest . Also, handling and transportation of RH is problematic due to its low density. RHA is a great environment threat causing damage to land and surrounding area where it is dumped. Therefore, commercial use of rice husk and its ash is the alternative solution to disposal problem. In this paper we have discussed a preliminary analysis of the numerous reported properties and uses of rice husk and its ash. Attempt has been made to collect data and information from various research work related to RH and RHA.

Fig 1 XRD of rice husk pyrolysed at different temperature [4].

Rice husk contains 75-90 % organic matter such as cellulose, lignin etc. and rest mineral components such as silica, alkalis and trace elements [4]. A typical analysis of rice husk is shown in table 1. The content of each of them depends on rice variety, soil chemistry, climatic conditions, and even the geographic localization of the culture [5]. Property Bulk density (kg/m3) Hardness(Mohrs scale) Ash,% Carbon, % Hydrogen,% Oxygen,% Nitrogen,% Sulphur,% Moisture Range 96-160 5-6 22-29 35 4-5 31-37 0.23-0.32 0.04-0.08 8-9

Table 1 Typical analysis of rice husk [6]

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 10,October 2012) Rice husk is unusually high in ash compared to other biomass fuels in the range 10-20%. The ash is 87-97% silica [7], highly porous and light weight, with a very high external surface area. Presence of high amount of silica makes it a valuable material for use in industrial application. Other constituents of RHA, such as K2O, Al2O3., CaO, MgO, Na2O, Fe2O3 are available in less than 1 %ref. Various factors which influence ash properties are incinerating conditions (temperature and duration), rate of heating, burning technique, crop variety and fertilizer used. [8] The silica in the ash undergoes structural transformations depending on the conditions of combustion such as time and temperature. III. APPLICATION OF HUSK Suitability of RH to be used for different applications depends upon the physical and chemical properties of the husk such as ash content, silica content etc. Direct use of rice husk as fuel has been seen in power plants. Apart from its use as fuel, RH finds its use as source raw material for synthesis and development of new phases and compounds. A detailed description related to application of rice husk in industrial sectors as well as other fields has been given below. A. As a Fuel in Power Plant [9] Rice husk is mostly used as fuel in boilers for processing paddy and generation of process steam. Heat energy is produced through direct combustion and/or by gasification. Small sector process industries use fixed low capacity boilers, which are manually fired using rice husk as a fuel. Partial and uneven fuel combustion lead to smoke emission and decrease the fuel efficiency. As husks are available virtually for free, the boiler efficiency and the degree of combustion were the issues of receiving the latest attention. Plants with capacity 2-10 MW range can become commercially viable and this biomass resource can be utilized to a much greater extent than at present. It has been seen that to produce 1MWh, approximately 1 tonne of rice husk is required. So, the technical and economic factors decide the effective use of rice huck as fuel for power generation. Also, rice husk has been used as an useful and alternative fuel for household energy. [10] RH is also used as fuel in brick kilns, in furnaces etc [11]. B. Formation of Activated Carbon [12] Due to presence of large amount of hydrocarbon such as cellulose and lignin content, rice husk can be used as a raw material to prepare activated carbons which are complex porous structures. 87 They are obtained by two different processes: the physical or thermal activation and the chemical activation. In the former carbonization is followed by char activation; in the second one, carbonization and activation are performed in a single step, using a chemical agent. Physical activation of rice husk produces activated carbon that exhibits very low specific area. Activated carbons are effective adsorbents due to their microporous structure. C. As a source of Silica and Silicon Compounds [13, 14] Apart from organic component, presence of up to 20% silica makes rice husk a promising raw material source for a number of silicon compounds such as silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon tetrachloride, zeolite, silica, and pure silicon. The applications of such materials derived from rice husks are very comprehensive. The above compounds prepared in powder form are characterized by high purity and fine dispersity [15]. D. Porous SiO2/C composite from RH During heat treatment of RH in inert atmosphere, organic compounds decompose and partly change to H 2O, CO, CO2, and volatile compounds, remaining carbon and SiO2[16]. The porous SiO2/C composites with a high surface area have been fabricated by heating the pellets in inert atmosphere. Porous SiO2/C composite was able to be fabricated through a simple one-step firing process. The pore characteristics of the products could be controlled by changing the molding pressure, raw RH particle size, and heat treatment temperature. Heating at 1000 C displayed the optimal properties such as 87% porosity and 450 m2/ g specific surface area. Larger RH particles resulted in products with higher strength. [17]. E. Insulating fire brick using RH [18] Bricks made using rice husk develop plenty of pores during heat treatment due to burning out of organic material. The more the percentage of rice husk in a brick, the more porous would be the brick and better thermal insulation. Presences of entrapped air in pores have thermal insulating characteristics and thus make the porous fire brick structure suitable for back up insulation. F. Other uses RH is used as a raw material for production of xylitol, furfural, ethanol, acetic acid, lingo sulphonic acids. It is used as cleaning or polishing agent in metal and machine industry, in manufacturing of building materials etc [19]. RH has been used as an industrial raw material e.g , as an insulating board material, fillers in plastics, filling material, building materials, for making panel board, activated carbon etc[20].

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 10,October 2012) Little effort has been made to manufacture composite products based on two surface structure of rice husk [21]. Despite so many well established uses, little portion of rice husk produced is utilized in a meaningful way, remaining part is allowed to burn in open piles or dumped as a solid waste. Rice Husk ash finds large number of industrial applications which are described below. IV. APPLICATIONS OF RICE HUSK ASH Rice husk ash has been widely used in various industrial applications such as processing of steel, cement, refractory industry etc. [19]. Suitability of RHA mainly depends on the chemical composition of ash, predominantly silica content in it. RHA is found to be superior to other supplementary materials like slag, silica fume and fly ash [22]. A. RHA in Steel industry [23] RHA is used during the production of high quality flat steel. The ash also finds application as an excellent insulator, having fine insulating properties including low thermal conductivity, a high melting point, low bulk density and high porosity. It is used as "tundish powder" to insulate the tundish container, prevent rapid cooling of steel and ensure uniform solidification in casting process. RHA is also used as a coating over the molten metal in the tundish and in ladle which acts as a very good insulator and does not allow quick cooling of metal. B. Use in Ceramic and refractory industry [24] Rice husk ash is used in the manufacture of refractory bricks because of its insulating properties. It has been used in the manufacture of low-cost, lightweight insulating boards. RHA has been used as silica source for cordierite production. Replacement of kaolinite with rice husk silica in the mixture composition, yields higher cordierites with a lower crystallize temperature and decrease in activation energy of crystallization. C. Use of RHA as Silica Source [25] Due to presence of large silica content in ash, extraction of silica is economical. Silica is also precipitated in customized forms to meet the requirements of various uses. Some of the uses of silica are in rubber industry as reinforcing agent, in cosmetics, in toothpastes as a cleansing agent and in the food industry as an anti-caking agent [26]. There is a growing demand for fine amorphous silica in the production of high performance cement and concrete, use in bridges, marine environments, nuclear power plants etc. Silica aerogels prepared from RHA finds application in super thermal insulators, catalyst supports and dielectric materials [27]. RHA can be an economically viable raw material for the production of silicates and silica. D. RHA in cement and construction industries The increasing need for stronger and durable building materials has been to some extent fulfilled by a new concept i.e, blended cement. Blending of reactive rice husk ash in cement has become a common recommendation almost in all the international building codes. Extensive research has been carried out on application of RHA as mineral additive to improve performance of concrete. Reports indicated RHA as a highly reactive pozzolan [28] . RHA is mainly used a replacement of silica fume or as an admixture in manufacturing of low cost concrete block. E. Other applications Basha, et al [29] examined the possibilities of improving residual soil properties by mixing RHA and cement in suitable proportions as stabilizing agents. Indian Space Research Organization has successfully developed a technology for producing high purity silica from RHA that can be used in manufacturing of silicon chip in industry ref. Saha, et al [30] studied the possibility of using RHA in water purification. Attempts have been made to utilize RHA in vulcanizing rubber [31]. H Ismail et al [32] studied use of Rice Husk to synthesize High-Performance Phosphors. Other uses of RH are in control of insect pests in Stored Food Stuffs, in the water purification, in vulcanizing rubber, as flue gas desulphurization absorbents. RHA has been found to be effective as an oil spill absorbent, and for use in waterproofing chemicals, flame retardants, and as a carrier for pesticides and insecticides. Its absorbent and insulating properties are useful to many industrial applications. V. MARKETS WITH POTENTIAL IN THE FUTURE As already described above, RH and its ash are suitable materials for a wide range of industrial as well as research applications. In consideration with its low cost and easy availability, application of RH and RHA is still limited and there is tremendous potential of this material for use in upcoming industrial processing and technology. Potential future markets include manufacturing of silicon chip, synthesis of activated carbon, production of light weight construction materials and insulation etc. Small markets exist for RHA in the manufacture of refractory bricks and as oil absorbent whish can be expanded in to a large volume market. 88

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 10,October 2012) Though RHA finds largest and most commercially viable markets in cement, concrete and steel industries, constraints to the expansion of this market is due to the health issues associated with using crystalline ash and hence there is a great potential for use of amorphous RHA in these area. VI. CONCLUSIONS Rice husk has been used directly or in the form of ash either as a value added material for manufacturing and synthesizing new materials or as a low cost substitute material for modifying the properties of existing products. Presence of silica is an additional advantage in comparison to other byproduct materials which makes RH an important material for a wide range of manufacturing and application oriented processes. Easy availability and low price of rice husk in rice producing countries is an extra benefit towards the use of this material. Despite having high potential and suitability in so many well established uses, use of rice husk has been limited. In the competitive market, proper utilization of rice husk and its ash will benefit industrial sectors. The use of rice husk as fuel/electricity generation in efficient manner is likely to transform this agricultural waste material in to a valuable fuel for industrial sectors. A systematic approach to this material can give birth to a new industrial sector of rice husk. REFERENCES
[1 ] Giddel M.R and. Jivan A.P, Waste to Wealth, Potential of Rice Husk in India a Literature Review. International Conference on Cleaner Technologies and Environmental Management PEC, Pondicherry, India. January 4-6,2007. [2 ] Mohd kamal N.L and Nuruddin M.F, Interfacial bond strength: influence of microwave incinerated rice husk ash [3 ] Koteswara Rao. D and Pranav,Stabilization of expansive soil with rice husk ash, lime and gypsum an experimental study International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST) [4 ] Madhumita Sarangi S. Bhattacharyya and R. C. BeheraRice Effect of temperature on morphology and phase transformations of nanocrystalline silica obtained from rice husk, 82: 5, 377 386 [5 ] Agus setyo muntohar ,Utilization of uncontrolled burnt rice husk ash in soil improvement dimensi teknik sipil, vol. 4, no. 2, 100 - 105, september 2002Issn 1410-9530 [6 ] Muthadhi A and Kothandaraman S, Rice Husk Ash Properties and its Uses : A Review Rice Husk Ash May 2007 IE(I) Journal Vol 88, [7 ] M. Rozainee, S.P. Ngo, A.A. Salema, Effect of fluidising velocity on the combustion of rice husk in a bench-scale fluidised bed combustor for the production of amorphous rice husk ash, Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 703713 [8 ] Mansaray, K. G. And Ghaly, A. E,Thermal Degradation of Rice Husks in an Oxygen Atmosphere', Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, 1999 Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 21: 5, 453 466 [9 ] Assureira Estela, Rice husk an alternative fuel in Peru.universtaria cuadra 18 Lima 32 Peru. [10 ] http://apfeddb.iges.or.jp/__beta4__/doc/RISPO_GP004.pdf [11 ] Shabbir H. Gheewala, and Suthum Patumsawad Emission Assessment of Husk Combustion for Power Production World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 53 2009. [12 ] Cristina Dolly Granados, Rosa Venturini. Activated Carbons Obtained from Rice Husk: Influence of Leaching on Textural Parameters Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2008, 47, 47544757 [13 ] Matori K.A,. Haslinawati M.M, .Producing Amorphous White Silica from Rice Husk. MASAUM Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, October 2009 Vol. 1, No. 3, 512 [14 ] Adylov G. T., Faiziev Sh. A., Paizullakhanov M. S. , Silicon Carbide Materials Obtained from Rice Husk Technical Physics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2003, pp. 221223 [15 ] Nayak1 J.P, Bera J,Effect of sintering temperature on mechanical behaviour and bioactivity of solgel synthesized bioglass-ceramics using rice husk ash as a silica source Department of Ceramic Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India [16 ] Seiji Kumagai , Junya Sasaki, Carbon/silica composite fabricated from rice husk by means of binderless hot-pressing Bioresource Technology (2009) 100 33083315 [17 ] TakanoriI Watari , Akihiro Nakata, Yoshimi Kiba, Toshio Torikai, Mitsunori Yada,Fabrication of porous SiO2/C composite from rice husks Journal of the European Ceramic Society 26 (2006) 797801 [18 ] Emmanuel ogo onche, oliver nicholas namessan, gabriel abasiaka asikpo ,Property optimization of kaolin - rice husk insulating fire bricks benjamin iyenagbe ugheoke leonardo electronic journal of practices and technologies july-december 2006 issn 1583-1078 issue 9, p. 167-178 [19 ] Mehta P K. Siliceous Ashes and Hydraulic Cements Prepared there from.United States 4105459 [20 ] Farooquea K. N. M. Zamana, E. Halimb, S. Islama, M. Hossaina, Y. A. Mollahb and Mahmoodb A. J,Characterization and Utilization of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) from Rice Mill of Bangladesh [21 ] Takanorii Wata,Fabrication of Porous sio2/C composite from rice husks. Journal of the European Ceramic Society 26 (2006) 797 801 [22 ] Sun Luyi ,Silicon-Based Materials from Rice Husks and Their Applications. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2001, 40, 5861-5877 [23 ] The UK Steel Association: Www.Uksteel.org [24 ] Fadaly El ,Recycling of Ceramic Industry Wastes in Floor Tiles Recipes.Journal of American Science 2010. [25 ] Chandrasekar S, Satyanarayana K G and Raghavan P .N,Processing, Properties and Applications of Reactive Silica from Rice Husk an Overview. 2003 journal of Materials Science, vol 38, p 3159. [26 ] Rama Rao G.A. Sastry R.K and Rohatgi Bull P.K.,Nature and reactivity of silica available in rice husk and its ashes Mater. Sci.vol 12, no.5, dec 1989, pp. 469-479 [27 ] Goncalves M.R.F. Thermal insulators made with rice husk ashes: Production and correlation between properties and microstructure.Construction and Building Materials 21 (2007) 2059 2065 [28 ] Faiziev S,Synthesis of ceramic compounds utilizing woody waste materials and rice husk Construction and Building Materials Materials Science Forum Vols. 437-438 (2003) pp 411-414 21 20592065

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Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 10,October 2012)
[29 ] Basha E A, Hashim R, Mahmud H B and Muntohar A S,Stabilization of Residual Soil with RHA and Cement. Construction and Building Materials, 2005, p 448 [30 ] Naito N, Lowcost Technology for Controlling Soybean Insect Pests in Indonesia. Association for International Cooperation of Agriculture and Forestry, 1999, Japan, [31 ] Saha J C, Diksit K and Bandyopadhyay M. Comparative Studies for Selection of Technologies for Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water, BUET-UNU International Workshop on Technologies for Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water, 2001, Bangladesh. [32 ] Siriwandena S, Ismail H and Ishakiaku U S. A Comparison of White Rice Hushes Ash and Silica as Filler in Ethylenepropylenediene Terpolymer Vulcanizates, Polymer International, 2001 vol 50, no 6, p 707.

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