Insights on the Nano Silica Global Market to 2031 - Rising

Dublin, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Nano Silica Market By Product, By Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global nano silica market was valued at $4.6 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $8.6 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2022 to 2031.

Nano silica is a white fluffy powder composed of high purity amorphous silica powder. Because of its small particle size, nano-SiO2 had the advantages of large specific surface area, strong surface adsorption, large surface energy, high chemical purity and good dispersion.

Rising demand from the rubber industry in light of the growing automotive industry is expected to be a key factor propelling market growth. In addition, growing use of nano silica as an additive in various application segments such as concrete and rubber, and growing demand for coatings due to growth in coatings applications in the construction industry is expect to propel the growth of the market in coming years.

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Nano silica is being highly publicized as a promising cementitious admixture in concrete apart from paints, coatings, and rubber additives. Nano silica has the potential to leverage the mechanical and durability attributes of concrete. The ever-evolving construction industry is another key driver, which is fueling the growth of the nano silica market. As such, the construction industry is creating a demand for supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)-like nano silica to enhance the properties of concrete.

Nano silica is gaining increased popularity for cementitious admixtures in concrete to deploy improved load-carrying capacity. Since nano silica is extremely fine, it helps to strengthen the microstructure of the cementitious matrix as a result of its pozzolanic activity.

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Lignin is a natural biopolymer. A vibrant and rapid process in the synthesis of silica nanoparticles by consuming the lignin as a soft template was carefully studied. The extracted biopolymer from coir pith was employed as capping and stabilizing agents to fabricate the silica nanoparticles ( n Si). The synthesized silica nanoparticles ( n Si) were characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). All the results obtained jointly and independently verified the formation of silica nanoparticles. In addition, EDAX analysis confirmed the high purity of the n Si composed only of Si and O, with no other impurities. XRD spectroscopy showed the characteristic diffraction peaks for n Si and confirmed the formation of an amorphous nature. The average size of n Si obtained is 18 nm. The surface charge and stability of n Si were analyzed by using the dynamic light scattering (DLS) and thus revealed that the n Si samples have a negative charge (−20.3 mV). In addition, the seed germination and the shoot and root formation on Vigna unguiculata were investigated by using the n Si. The results revealed that the application of n Si enhanced the germination in V. unguiculata. However, further research studies must be performed in order to determine the toxic effect of biogenic n Si before mass production and use of agricultural applications.

1. Introduction

There is a broad consensus that the nanoparticle is a material with at least one dimension less than 100 nm. Nanoparticles can be distinguished into nanopowders, nanoclusters, nanocrystals and many other groups which can be further subdivided [1]. At the end of the 20th century, nanotechnology was perceived as the next game-changer [2]. Based on the laboratory experiments, as more and more nanomaterials of different compositions, sizes and shapes became available [3], dramatic changes were predicted to improve human lives [4]. Nanomaterials showed varied optical, catalytic, magnetic and other chemical–physical characteristics, including distinct biological properties, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities [5]. Most of these excellent properties have been repeatedly and independently confirmed in the chemical industry [6], metal production [7], agriculture [8] and energetics [9] (Mardoyan and Braun 2015), to name a few. However, as fast as the nano industry grew initially, it hit its upper limit about a decade ago, and a price ceiling has been slowing down its further development since then [10]. A plethora of methods have been developed to synthesize various nanomaterials of different characteristics. The two most important production directions are A/electrochemical and chemical reduction [11] and B/photochemical and physical vapor condensation [12]. Carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, nanorods, nano capsules, nano emulsions, fullerenes, metallic nanoparticles, ceramic nanoparticles and polymer nanoparticles hold the largest market share [13,14], whereas usual wholesale prices range from 4 to 18 €g−1 [15]. Although these conventional production processes make it possible to achieve nanoparticles with perfect shapes and a purity higher than 99.995%, it is the high production costs (about 90% of the market price) that block further industry development [16,17]. To make matters worse, all of these various combinations of chemical and physical methods are energy demanding and require hazardous reagents (mostly stabilizing and reducing agents) during almost all production phases [18], not to mention various biological risks to the environment [19]. Hence, there is a wide demand for the definition of less demanding production technologies that would improve the competitiveness of the entire nanotechnology industry [20].

Si and SiO2 nanomaterials have drawn more attention by various entrepreneurs due to their widespread application in the advance of new technologies in various areas [21,22]. They have a wide range of applications in industries such as agriculture, pharmacy, pigments, catalysis, electronics and cosmetics [23,24]. There are numerous types of nSi, including non-porous, mesoporous, hollow mesoporous and core–shell, all of which can be modified on the surface [25,26]. Mesoporous nSi have few flexible and desirable properties, such as biocompatibility, tenable pore size and volume for delivery of targeted drugs [27]. Using Tetra ethyl ortho silicate [Si(OC2H5)4,TEOS] as a precursor is the most straightforward and cost-effective method for producing spherical, monodispersed and nanosized nSi [28]. In plants, silica is important for inducing resistance against the biotic and abiotic stresses [29]. The recent advances in nanotechnology and its use in agriculture fields are astonishingly increasing to improve crop production [30].

There are various methods, namely Sol-Gel, reverse microemulsion and flame-synthesis methods employed in extracting silica from waste materials. The Sol-Gel method is the most common approach for research purposes. The original method of Stöber et al. [31] has largely altered and modified the synthesis of silica via hydrolysis–condensation reaction. The polymeric networks of gels were formed from silicon alkoxide/halide gels, and polymeric gel is otherwise known as as xerogel [32]. Many silica-based nanomaterials and derivatives are produced by using the Sol-Gel method. The acids HCl, H2SO4, carboxylic acid, citric acid and nitric acid have been utilized for the production of highly pure amorphous silica from rice husks and oil palm ash [33,34,35]. TEOS is a Sol-Gel precursor for the production of silica-based nanomaterials, because it is able to bond with polymers via the creation of a link between the hydroxyl group of polymers and silanol groups through covalent and hydrogen bonds [36]. This research motivated us to use alternative sources of production of silica nanoparticles.

Coir pith is a by-product of padding that is employed in mattress factories. It is a lignocellulosic biomass that is produced during the extraction of coir fiber from coconut husk [37]. It has a huge amount of lignin. It accumulates near coir processing industries as a waste product and caused environmental and disposal complications. The raw coir pith comprises 30% lignin, 26.5% cellulose, 26% carbon and 17.5% others [38]. Hence, this investigation focused on the usage of coir pith in the production of nanosilica.

Following the abovementioned, our hypothesis addressed whether it might be environmentally and techno-economically reasonable to produce nSi via the acidic Sol-Gel method (biopolymer and TEOS as Si precursor) as a tool to improve seed germination (shoot and root formation, in particular).

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