Generic placeholder image

Micro and Nanosystems

Author(s): Mohammad Shoriful Islam, Mohammad A. Sattar*, Mohammad A. Halim, Mohammad Asadul Hoque, Abdul Quader, Mohammad A. Gafur and Mohammad A. Hakim

DOI: 10.2174/1876402912666200218114613

DownloadDownload PDF Flyer Cite As
Squeezing Out and Characterization of Silicon from Sand by Mg- Thermite Reduction Process

Page: [55 - 60] Pages: 6

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Background: Sand is one of the efficient sources of silicon. We get quite easily the plethora of sand from the river side, Bangladesh. Utilization of the superfluous sand can be assisted to enhance our economy.

Methods: In this work, silicon is extracted from sand by metal–thermite reduction process and the sample of sand is collected from padma river Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The process is environmentally benign and low cost. The reduction of the sand was performed with Mg powder, and purification was done by leaching out with HCl and HF. We have studied the structural properties, chemical nature and physical morphology.

Results and Conclusion: X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed that the presence of elemental Si in the samples produced by Mg-thermite reduction process and the particle size was found 25.72±1.3 nm in an average. Surface morphology has been studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and the particle size seemed around 30 to 40 nm which was comparable to the obtained particle size from XRD. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the presence of Si-Si bonding in the investigating materials. The chemical nature of the sand has been studied by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. Silicon content of sand was found about maximum 80%.

Keywords: Magnesiothermite, sand reduction, acid leaching, structural properties, physical morphology, chemical nature.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Sani, N.A.; Abdulsalam, A.K.; Abdullahi, U.A. Extraction and quantification of silicon from silica sand obtained from zauma river, zamfara state, nigeria. Eur. Sci. J., 2013, 9(15), 160-168.
[2]
Adeniyi, A.T.; Olafuyi, O.A. Silica based surfactants for enhanced oil recovery. SPE Nigeria Ann. Int. Conf. Exhib, 2018, p. 1608.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/193472-MS]
[3]
Goldschmidt, H. Effect of chemistry on the performance of calcium disilicide primers. Iron Age, 1908, 82, 232.
[4]
Ringdalen, E.; Tangstad, M. Reaction mechanisms in carbothermic production of silicon, study of selected reactions. Miner. Met. Mater. Soc., 2012, pp. 195-203.,
[5]
Dosaj, V.D. Control of carbon balance in a silicon smelting furnace. U.S. Patent No. 5,174,982, Dec 29,, 1992.
[6]
Ali, H.H.M. Production of metallurgical-grade silicon from Egyptian quartz. J. South. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall., 2018, 118(2), 143-148.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2018/v118n2a7]
[7]
Furquan, M.; Vijayalakshmi, S.; Mitra, S. Method of preparing silicon from sand. Int. Cl. C01B 33/023. Appl. No., 2016, 38, 56-68.
[8]
Logan, K.V.; Price, E.W.; Mclemorel, W.J.S. Mclemorel, in material processing by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. SHS Symposium Proceedings 21-23, Daytona Beach, FL, U.S., G.P.O., Washington DC1985 October ;, pp. 167-75.,
[9]
Wang, L.L.; Munir, Z.A.; Maximov, Y.M. Review thermite reactions: their utilization in the synthesis and processing of materials. J. Mater. Sci., 1993, 28, 3693-3708.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00353167]
[10]
Van de Walle, C.G.; Jackson, W.B. Comment on “Reduction of hot electron degradation in metal oxide semiconductor transistors by deuterium processing”. Appl. Phys. Lett., 1996, 69, 2441.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.117664]
[11]
Van de Walle, C.G. Microscopic theory of hydrogen in silicon devices. IEEE Trans. Electron Dev., 2000, 47, 1779.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/16.870547]
[12]
Madelung, O. Semiconductors (Group IV Elements and III—V Compounds); Springer‐verlag: Berlin, 1991.
[13]
Lin, S-Y. Vibrational local modes of a-SiO2: H and variation of local modes in different local environments. J. Appl. Phys., 1997, 82(12), 5976-5982.