Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement

Abstract This study investigated the optimization of synthesis parameters for producing nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use as rubber reinforcement. Important variables such as pH, sol‒gel synthesis temperature, stirring rate, calcination temperature, sodium silicate modulus, NaOH conc...

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Main Authors: Agraw Mulat Muhammud, Gemechu Deressa Edossa, Fedlu Kedir Sabir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95980-1
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author Agraw Mulat Muhammud
Gemechu Deressa Edossa
Fedlu Kedir Sabir
author_facet Agraw Mulat Muhammud
Gemechu Deressa Edossa
Fedlu Kedir Sabir
author_sort Agraw Mulat Muhammud
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigated the optimization of synthesis parameters for producing nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use as rubber reinforcement. Important variables such as pH, sol‒gel synthesis temperature, stirring rate, calcination temperature, sodium silicate modulus, NaOH concentration, and H2SO4 concentration were systematically varied. FTIR, XRD, BET, TGA, and SEM were used to characterize the resulting SiO2 and assess how these parameters affect its morphological, surface, thermal, and structural properties. According to BET analysis, a sodium silicate modulus of 3–4 produced the best results. FTIR and BET tests showed that H2SO4 concentrations of 2 M and 2.5 M were ideal, while NaOH concentrations of 2 M and 3 M were optimal based on BET and XRD analyses. The best silica was obtained within a synthesis temperature range of 70–90 °C, as indicated by XRD, FTIR, and SEM investigations and pH values between 8 and 10 were confirmed by XRD and SEM to be suitable. TGA revealed that the ideal calcination temperature ranged from 600 °C to 800 °C, while SEM showed that the best stirring rate was 600 rpm. These studies confirm that the characteristics of Ethiopian pumice-derived SiO2 for rubber reinforcement are strongly influenced by the optimized synthesis conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-49bae0c2dcf84ad9bfd7acb15277fda82025-08-20T03:10:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-95980-1Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcementAgraw Mulat Muhammud0Gemechu Deressa Edossa1Fedlu Kedir Sabir2Department of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and Technology UniversityAbstract This study investigated the optimization of synthesis parameters for producing nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use as rubber reinforcement. Important variables such as pH, sol‒gel synthesis temperature, stirring rate, calcination temperature, sodium silicate modulus, NaOH concentration, and H2SO4 concentration were systematically varied. FTIR, XRD, BET, TGA, and SEM were used to characterize the resulting SiO2 and assess how these parameters affect its morphological, surface, thermal, and structural properties. According to BET analysis, a sodium silicate modulus of 3–4 produced the best results. FTIR and BET tests showed that H2SO4 concentrations of 2 M and 2.5 M were ideal, while NaOH concentrations of 2 M and 3 M were optimal based on BET and XRD analyses. The best silica was obtained within a synthesis temperature range of 70–90 °C, as indicated by XRD, FTIR, and SEM investigations and pH values between 8 and 10 were confirmed by XRD and SEM to be suitable. TGA revealed that the ideal calcination temperature ranged from 600 °C to 800 °C, while SEM showed that the best stirring rate was 600 rpm. These studies confirm that the characteristics of Ethiopian pumice-derived SiO2 for rubber reinforcement are strongly influenced by the optimized synthesis conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95980-1Ethiopian pumiceNanostructured SiO2Synthesis optimizationSustainable materialsRubber filler
spellingShingle Agraw Mulat Muhammud
Gemechu Deressa Edossa
Fedlu Kedir Sabir
Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement
Scientific Reports
Ethiopian pumice
Nanostructured SiO2
Synthesis optimization
Sustainable materials
Rubber filler
title Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement
title_full Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement
title_fullStr Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement
title_short Optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured SiO2 from Ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement
title_sort optimizing the synthesis of nanostructured sio2 from ethiopian pumice for use in rubber reinforcement
topic Ethiopian pumice
Nanostructured SiO2
Synthesis optimization
Sustainable materials
Rubber filler
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95980-1
work_keys_str_mv AT agrawmulatmuhammud optimizingthesynthesisofnanostructuredsio2fromethiopianpumiceforuseinrubberreinforcement
AT gemechuderessaedossa optimizingthesynthesisofnanostructuredsio2fromethiopianpumiceforuseinrubberreinforcement
AT fedlukedirsabir optimizingthesynthesisofnanostructuredsio2fromethiopianpumiceforuseinrubberreinforcement