Thermal kinetics and morphological investigation of alkaline treated rice husk biomass

Agro waste bio mass are creating challenges for environment in term of air pollution due to improper disposal. Rice milling is the process in which rice husk is produced as by-product. The agro-waste rice husk has tremendous potential to be used either in its raw form or in ash form. The inherent component of this waste cellulose provides enhanced properties in a reinforced composite when used as filler. Rice husk is the hard outer layer and covering rice seed, which makes reinforcement challenging in its original form. Fiber surface treatment significantly improves adhesion with matrix and various thermo chemical properties of filler as well as of composites. NaOH treatment is cost-effective and it ensures the adhesion with matrix by removal of hemicellulose and lignin. The chemical treatment of agro-waste (rice husk) is performed with 5% alkali solutions of NaOH in water. Results are compared with the properties of untreated rice husk for thermal and morphological characterizations. In the present work, we are trying to quantify the impact of chemical treatment on rice husk thermal decomposition and its kinetics. Thermogravimetric analysis and kinetics study of thermal degradation, provide key input towards pyrolysis pattern of rice husk, while FTIR and SEM analysis provide the prospects of this bio filler using a reinforcing agent to develop green composite and productive disposal. The FTIR data helps to find the possibilities of blending different bio fillers and natural fibers to find suitable reinforcing substances. The average activation energy of treated fiber is noted as 137.95 by KAS method and 108.08 by FWO method as compared to 55.56 by KAS method & 54.26 by FWO method for untreated rice husk.