Steam-Pressure-Assisted Template-Free Synthesis of Highly Porous Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles from Bantargebang MSWI Fly Ash
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.13600Keywords:
Amorphous silica nanoparticles, Fly ash, Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI)Abstract
The Bantargebang Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) pilot project provides a national model for sustainable waste management. The incineration process generates fly ash rich in mineral oxides, including calcium oxide (45.00%), silicon dioxide (13.40%), iron oxide (8.00%), and aluminum oxide (7.50%), providing a promising source of silica for further utilization. In this study, silicon dioxide was extracted from Bantargebang MSWI fly ash via sodium silicate formation and converted into amorphous silica nanoparticles through acid-induced sol-gel precipitation without organic structure-directing agents. Extraction time and heating temperature during sodium silicate preparation were systematically evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. Optimal conditions using a 2 h steam-pressure treatment at 125 °C yielded 20.00% silica. TEM revealed spherical, aggregated nanoparticles averaging 19.85 ± 0.09 nm at 110 °C and 17.40 ± 0.29 nm at 125 °C. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis showed surface areas of 156.36 and 802.51 m² g⁻¹, with corresponding pore volumes of 0.75 and 1.85 cm³ g⁻¹, for silica synthesized at 110 and 125 °C, respectively. The high surface area and pore volume obtained at 125 °C confirm the formation of highly porous amorphous silica nanoparticles. These results highlight the potential of industrial fly ash as a sustainable source of high-performance silica. Owing to their exceptionally high surface area and well-developed porosity, the synthesized silica nanoparticles exhibit strong potential for future applications in environmental remediation, particularly as adsorbent materials for wastewater treatment.
HIGHLIGHTS
- First direct synthesis of amorphous mesoporous silica nanoparticles from Bantargebang municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA).
- Steam-pressure-assisted sol–gel extraction was successfully performed under mild hydrothermal conditions (110 - 125 °C).
- Acid washing and demineralization steps were intentionally omitted to simplify the process and improve its environmental sustainability.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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