Low Energy Mesoporous Silica Recovery
from a Nigerian Kaolinite Ore
for Industrial Value Additions
Alafara A. Baba, Abdullah S. Ibrahim, Dele P. Fapojuwo, Kuranga I. Ayinla,
Daud T. Olaoluwa, Sadisu Girigisu, Mustapha A. Raji, Fausat T. Akanji,
and Abdul G. F. Alabi
Abstract The increasing industrial demands for mesoporous silica warrant the
continuous development of less energy intensive, cheaper, and eco-friendly technologies. Mesoporous silica from an indigenous kaolinite ore was synthesized by
hydrochloric acid dissolution. Experimental reaction parameters were optimized
to maximize silica recovery and the solid product was characterized using Xray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) Nitrogen adsorption–
desorption measurements. The dissolution data show the rate of reaction increase
with increasing concentration temperature but with decreasing solid-to-liquid ratio.
The Avrami model proved most suitable model for describing the leaching process
with Avrami parameter n value of 0.8 and calculated apparent activation energy
of 7.22 kJ/mol suggested a diffusion controlling rate mechanism. The mesoporous
product as characterized gave a pore size of 3.67 nm at the maximum probability and
possessed suitable morphological applications as additive in polymers and catalysis.
Keywords Kaolinite · Mesoporous silica · Avrami · Industrial application
A. A. Baba (B) · A. S. Ibrahim · K. I. Ayinla · D. T. Olaoluwa · S. Girigisu · M. A. Raji ·
F. T. Akanji
Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin 240003, Nigeria
e-mail: baalafara@yahoo.com
D. P. Fapojuwo
Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
D. T. Olaoluwa
Science Laboratory Technology Department, Federal Polytechnic Ede, Ede, Nigeria
S. Girigisu
Science Laboratory Technology Department, Federal Polytechnic Offa, P.M.B. 420, Offa, Nigeria
F. T. Akanji
Chemistry Advance Research Centre, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, FCT, P.M.B 186,
Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
A. G. F. Alabi
Department of Material Science and Engineering, Kwara State University, P.M.B 1530, Malete,
Nigeria
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
A. A. Baba et al. (eds.), Energy Technology 2021, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65257-9_9
87
from a Nigerian Kaolinite Ore
for Industrial Value Additions
Alafara A. Baba, Abdullah S. Ibrahim, Dele P. Fapojuwo, Kuranga I. Ayinla,
Daud T. Olaoluwa, Sadisu Girigisu, Mustapha A. Raji, Fausat T. Akanji,
and Abdul G. F. Alabi
Abstract The increasing industrial demands for mesoporous silica warrant the
continuous development of less energy intensive, cheaper, and eco-friendly technologies. Mesoporous silica from an indigenous kaolinite ore was synthesized by
hydrochloric acid dissolution. Experimental reaction parameters were optimized
to maximize silica recovery and the solid product was characterized using Xray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) Nitrogen adsorption–
desorption measurements. The dissolution data show the rate of reaction increase
with increasing concentration temperature but with decreasing solid-to-liquid ratio.
The Avrami model proved most suitable model for describing the leaching process
with Avrami parameter n value of 0.8 and calculated apparent activation energy
of 7.22 kJ/mol suggested a diffusion controlling rate mechanism. The mesoporous
product as characterized gave a pore size of 3.67 nm at the maximum probability and
possessed suitable morphological applications as additive in polymers and catalysis.
Keywords Kaolinite · Mesoporous silica · Avrami · Industrial application
A. A. Baba (B) · A. S. Ibrahim · K. I. Ayinla · D. T. Olaoluwa · S. Girigisu · M. A. Raji ·
F. T. Akanji
Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin 240003, Nigeria
e-mail: baalafara@yahoo.com
D. P. Fapojuwo
Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
D. T. Olaoluwa
Science Laboratory Technology Department, Federal Polytechnic Ede, Ede, Nigeria
S. Girigisu
Science Laboratory Technology Department, Federal Polytechnic Offa, P.M.B. 420, Offa, Nigeria
F. T. Akanji
Chemistry Advance Research Centre, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, FCT, P.M.B 186,
Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
A. G. F. Alabi
Department of Material Science and Engineering, Kwara State University, P.M.B 1530, Malete,
Nigeria
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
A. A. Baba et al. (eds.), Energy Technology 2021, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65257-9_9
87