Hydrophobic Treatment of Cotton Fabrics Using Recycled Silica Nanoparticles from Rice Bran Ash

Rice bran, abundant in rice-producing countries, contains lots of silica. In this study, we recycled silica nanoparticles from rice bran ash. Then we used them to enhance the hydrophobicity of cotton fabrics. According to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) results, the recycled nanosilica had high purity (95%). The obtained results from Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) showed the structure and morphology of the powder. The particle size of the extracted nanoparticles was around 48 nm. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that the extracted nanosilica has an amorphous structure. Images of Thermal Emission Microscopy (TEM) also indicated that the nanosilica has an amorphous structure. Then, the cotton fabric hydrophobicity was enhanced using siloxane compounds and recycled nanosilica. The emersion method was employed to apply the nanosilica and siloxane compounds on the fabric’s surface. (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) EDS examinations showed that the silica nanoparticles were evenly distributed on the surface of the cotton fabric. The water contact angle was 141, meaning that the extracted nanosilica has enhanced the hydrophobicity of cotton fabric.