Study of Fabrication of MgO Nanoparticles by Solid-State Reaction and Ion Exchange Methods in ZSM-5 Matrix Synthesized from Rice Husk Ash

The fabrication and characterization of ZSM-5 zeolite using rice husk ash as an alternative cheap silica source is reported. Rice husk, combusted at 700 ºC for the production of amorphous silica, has been used for the preparation of RHA-ZSM-5 zeolite.MgO nanoparticles were synthesized in the RHA-ZSM-5 matrix with a solid-state reaction method and calcined at 300°C. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. XRD results revealed diffraction peaks for each of the two compounds in the nanocomposite. In the FT-IR spectra, all bands in the nanocomposite sample show a shift concerning that of the matrix, indicating that the MgO is incorporated in the matrix. Transmission electron microscopy images showed small particles belong to MgO nanoparticles with a maximum diameter of 26 nm.