Nanosilica from diatomaceous earth waste in the brewing industry with pozzolanic potential
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46421/enarc.v9i1.6939Keywords:
Datomite, Waste, CharacterizationAbstract
The brewing industry generates large volumes of residual diatomite, whose disposal still represents an environmental challenge. Due to this challenge, this study proposes the valorization of this waste as a raw material for the production of nanosilica (NS). For this purpose, the residual diatomite was subjected to thermal treatment at 700 °C for 6 hours and characterized by various techniques. Morphological analysis by SEM revealed a porous structure, while chemical characterization by XRD, EDXRF, and FTIR confirmed silica as the major phase. The average crystallite size, estimated using the Scherrer equation, was 21.69 nm. In addition, the electrical conductivity test indicated a variation of 3.833 mS/cm, classifying the NS as a material with good pozzolanicity. The results suggest that converting residual diatomite into NS adds value to the underutilized industrial waste, representing an alternative aligned with the principles of circular economy and the reduction of environmental impact.
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