Ultrasonication Temperature Effects on The Green Synthesis of Silica Nanoparticles from Oil Palm Shell

¹ Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600 Pahang, Malaysia
² EDP Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600 Pahang, Malaysia
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, 10510 Jakarta, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, 10510 Jakarta, Indonesia
⁵ National Research and Innovation Agency, 40132 Bandung, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: author@email.org

Abstract

The research interest in vaporizing agricultural waste, especially oil palm empty shells, has increased due to the rising demand for environmentally friendly nanomaterials. This study aims to investigate the environmentally friendly synthesis of silica nanoparticles from oil palm empty shells, emphasizing the impact of varied ultrasonication temperatures using the ultrasonication method on silica nanoparticles yield, and their characteristics (FTIR and SEM analysis). The synthesis involved raw material pre-treatment, silica extraction, and nanoparticles synthesis through controlled ultrasonication with varied temperatures (50, 60, 70 °C), followed by calcination. According to the findings, raising the ultrasonication temperature to 60 °C considerably increased silica nanoparticles and decreased particle agglomeration because of stronger cavitation effects. However, temperatures above this threshold caused morphological abnormalities and minor yield reduction, most likely due to structural disintegration and re-agglomeration brought on by increased cavitation effects. FTIR analysis verified the SiO2 functional groups. The SEM characterization verified the development of amorphous silica with nanoscale morphology (56.857 nm to 387.6 nm). The optimum temperature was obtained at 60 °C with a yield of 33.13%, and a 56.857 nm size. This study emphasizes the importance of ultrasonication temperature on the environmental nanoparticle synthesis from biomass waste.