DETERMINATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF GROUNDNUT HUSK ASH AS A SOURCE OF FLUXING AGENT FOR GLASS MAKING

ABSTRACT

Agricultural waste like Groundnut Husk Ash(GHA) generated can inevitably affect the environment by the emission of methane and leachate when rotten. The evaluation of the possible utilization of agricultural waste is important in not only protecting the environment but also in minimizing the cost of disposal, conservation of land for other purposes and reduction in the use of other raw materials. Groundnut husk Ash as a source of fluxing agent for Glass making was experimentally investigated using the ashes from groundnut husk sourced from Gumel, Kujama and Narayi in Kaduna State. The ash obtained from 100g of GH fromGumel, Kujama and Narayi was 2.00g, 2.20g and 1.80g respectively. The solubility test on each of the samples of GHA indicated that the ashes were fairly soluble in water. The XRF analysis carried out on the ash samples showed thatK₂O as obtained on the samples from Gumel, Kujama and Narayi were 46.2%, 32.7% and 33.94% and the CaO were 34.5%, 26.8% and 30.9% respectively. The batches formulated corresponding to Soda Lime Silicate glass container composition (SiO₂ 70%K₂O 15%, Na₂O 2%, CaO 12%, MgO 1%, Fe₂O₃ 0.03%) and test melted at about 1300⁰C formed glass.10% solution of HCl_(aq) was used for acid resistant test and 10% NaOH was used for Alkali resistant test. The test revealed the glass were resistant to both media and the densities of glass as obtained with the GHA samples from Gumel, Kujama and Narayi stood at 2.45gcm^-3,2.47gcm^-3,, 2.48gcm^-3 respectively when measured. SEM analysis of the glass samples showed the external morphology while the XRD analysis showed a broad peak zone but absence of sharp Bragg‘s peak that signified the amorphous nature of the glass melts. From the result of analysis carried out on GHA and the test carried out on the formed glass, it has shown that GHA is a suitable source of fluxing agent for glass making.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In recent years, agricultural, industrial, and economic growth has been on a rise which is contributing to an improved quality and well-being of citizens.Due to the increase in the world‘s population and most of it moving to urban cities, there is increased demand for food, and this has resulted in the production of large amounts of agricultural wastes (Sabiti, 2011). However, wastes and by-products are created by the production systems which inevitably affect the environment. Some agricultural wastes emit methane and leachate when rotten, while some open burning by farmers to clear the lands, generates CO₂ and other local pollutants (UNEP, 2009).These wastes can be generated at any point in the production cycle, whether during obtaining the raw materials, transformation and production, or when the end user disposes the products which are no longer needed. The enormous amount of waste generated is still far from being used in its totality, making technological alternatives imperative to reduce its possible environmental impact such as leaching of potentially toxic substances into soils and groundwater, reductions in plant establishment and growth due primarily to adverse chemical characteristics of the waste. Other effects are, changes in elemental composition of vegetation growing on the waste and an increased mobility as well as accumulation of potentially toxic elements throughout food chain.

According to Garkida (2002),waste prevention has economic benefits and reduces pollution. Generation of new products from recycled waste is thus an irreplaceable alternative.

The evaluation of the possible uses of agricultural waste is important not only from a scientific point of view but as a resource that can be extracted and used in the production of new materials. In addition to helping protect the environment, there are many reasons to increase the amount of waste being utilized. These include disposal costs are minimized, less area is reserved for disposal, thus enabling other uses of the land. There may be financial returns from the sale of the by-product or at least an offset of the processing and disposal costs. The use of such waste offers a series of advantages such as a reduction in the use of other raw materials, contributing to an economy of natural resources.A major advantage of agricultural residues is that they are widely distributed in the country; in parts of thecountry that cannot support abundant growth of trees, agricultural produce are cultivated (Ogunwusi, 2014). The high cost associated with raw materials extraction, as well as the damage that the extraction causes to the environment are important reasons to motivate the use of industrial / agricultural process waste.

Potassium salts were commonly used as flux in the melting of glass in the fifteenth century at which time the glass industry was well established in Bohemia. The Bohemian factories were generally located in the forests where wood fuel was cheap and a crude potassium carbonate was obtained by lixiviation of the wood ashes. But as the industry grew, potash was replaced to some extent by soda ash from Spain(Finn, 1938). Soda ash has been commonly used as a fluxing material in glass making.

Groundnut is an important cash crop produced in large quantity in Nigeria. The productions of ground nut reached its peak in Nigeria during the period of 1969 to 1971when approximately 1.7 million tonnes of the pods were produced from an area of 1.8million hectares (Elinwa and Awari, 2001).According to the global food security index Nigeria is rated the 80^th and among the top countries that produce protein food crops and the third in the production of groundnut after India and China (Baraka, 2014

Groundnuthusk or hull is the shell of groundnut (peanut)left after the removal of the seed from the pod.The husk is used in most crop farms as residuewhere they decay and add nitrogen to the soil Okorie et al. (2013).Majority ofgroundnut husk are either burnt or allow to degrade naturally and advised that anumber of these agricultural residues can beutilized after a proper appraisal of theirchemical and physical properties(Faugdar& Diwaka, 1993).

The shell or husk is considered to be waste product with little or no use, after the groundnut is extracted, disposed off to prevent pollution. Currently, husk solids are used as fuel for fire. After combustion, about 5% ash by weight of husk is produced and since the ash does not have sufficient nutrients to be used as fertilizer, hence alternative means of disposing the ash is requiredAdole (2011). The utilization of groundnut husk will promote waste management at little cost, reduce pollution and increase the economic base of farmers when the waste is sold thereby encouraging more production,Ketukah (2006).

Groundnut husk as an agricultural waste its conversion to value added products makes it a secondary resource material. The analysis of groundnut husk ash (GHA) elemental composition revealed that it contains 15.46% K₂O (Adole, 2011).

The study of groundnut husk ash (GHA) may not be new; its application is seen in other areas such groundnut husk ash as a partial replacement of cement in mortar Ketukah (2006), effect of groundnut husk ash blended cement on chemical resistance of concrete Adole (2011), an investigation into the possible use of bagasse in glass making Tagwoi (2009).

1.1 Statement of the Problem

For many purposes, potassium oxide is employed to give a glass desirable working qualities. The potassium oxide glasses are more resistant to weathering than the sodium oxide glass. The high potassium and low silica content of this glass influences its chemical stability (De Bardi et al, 2015) which confirms that potash glass has more quality in terms of durability than soda glass. But due to cheap alternative which sodium carbonate provides and economic factors (cost of production), the use of potassium oxide as a flux has been abandoned which in turn discouraged the production of potash glass. The use of groundnut husk ash as a cheaper alternative source of potassium oxide will be explored in this study to tackle this problem.

1.2 Aim of the Study

The aim of this study is to utilize groundnut husk ash (GHA) as a source of fluxing agent for glass making.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are to;

1. Source the groundnut husks from the locations
2. analyzing the chemical composition of the groundnut husk ash (GHA)

• formulate glass batch

1. tests melt the formulated batches.
2. test for the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of the formed glass.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What effect will the chemical composition of GHA have on the glass to be produced?
2. How can groundnut husk ash be used to flux a glass?

• How can the groundnut husk ash significantly lower the melting temperature of the glass?

1. How can the formed glass be made to meet the required standards?

1.5 Basic Assumption

1. That the groundnut husk ash can be used as a flux in glass making.
2. The chemical composition of the ash will have an effect on the glass to be produced.

• That the groundnut husk ash will lower the temperature for glass melting to occur.

1.6 Justification of the Study

The glass industry is the largest user of soda ash and almost all the bulk tonnage of glass produced in the world today uses soda ash as a source of its alkali-metal oxide (Doyle, 1994). The need for the promotion of indigenous technology and the consequent demands for diverse locally available raw materials at csompetitive prices make it necessary to introduce new kinds of raw materials into the manufacturing process Mulchlyonov et al., (1986).Theneed to promote the use of agricultural residues is being influenced by increasing agricultural production and productivity globally as man continually sought to improve the quality of life by transforming nature to provide more food, better living conditions and long life (Hall, Guo, Dore

• Chow, 2009). An avenue can also be provided for complete utilization of raw materials. For example, oil which is extracted from the nuts for cooking and other applications, the husk which is used as fuel and the ash that results can be used in glass making. This study also proposes the reduction in environmental waste and also, the reduction in cost of procuring and processing raw materials.

1.7 Significance of the Study

The groundnut husk which is a residue after the nuts are removed can be completely utilized for production. Therefore, it will promote the complete utilization of residues for production

Most waste is hurriedly disposed without proper consideration whether it contains resources that can be exploited or not. This study will serve as a means of exploiting the resources contained within waste that would have been lost. It will reduce the negative environmental impact associated with landfill, thereby minimizing manufacturing cost and preserve non-renewable natural resources. It will promote and expand the frontiers of knowledge, as more research can be done on this study and other related works. The study will promote the generation of wealth from agricultural wastes.

1.8 Scope of the Study

This research will utilize ground nut husk gotten from Narayi, Kujama and Gumel in Kaduna State, while the quartz as a source of silica will be obtainedfrom an already sourced, beneficiated and analysed sample from Kaduna State.

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