Preparation and characterization of nanosilica from oil shale ash.

Nano-sized silica powders was prepared using oil shale ash (OSA) as starting materials. A combined process was proposed for the utilization of OSA in the production of the nanosilica, including three stages: calcination, alkaline leaching and carbon dioxide separation. Effects of the calcining temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration and holding time on the desilication ratio were investigated. The microstructure and morphologies of the nano-sized silica were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller nitrogen-gas adsorption method. The results indicated that the obtained powders with particle size of about 40 nm are homegeneously dispersed and its specific surface area is 387 m2/g. The properties of the nano-sized silica powder meet the requirements of the Chinese Chemical Industry Standard HG/T 3061-1999.