Description

Silica Sand/Quartz constitutes one of the most readily available geological materials used in industries and factories such as glass manufacturing companies. Silica Sand/Quartz are said to consist of high optimal percentage of silicon dioxide (SiO2) which is a very good chemically stable element and it remains almost the same no matter the series of cycles it may have gone through, either in transportation or re-deposition.

Quartz is silica occurring alone in pure state. Silica/glass sand on the other hand are products of weathering, erosion and transportation by rivers or/and the sea. Naturally occurring silica sands may contain some undesirable impurities like accessory haematite, rutile and dolomite etc.

Nigeria has extensive deposits of good quartz silica sands. Many of which are associated with the coastal plain of sedimentary areas in the southern part of the country, although deposits also occur in some inland areas. The major silica sand deposits in the country are located at Ughecll–Delta State, Igbokoda, Ondo State, Baure, Katsina State, Badagry, Lagos State, and along the sandy shore line of the Atlantic, some inland deposit are also reported at Shebu, Plateau State and Ilaro, Ogun State.

Silica sand and Sodium carbonate are the two principal raw materials used in the manufacture of sodium silicate. Soda ash will be supplied from domestic sources and that of Silica sand is abundant along the course of main rivers.
This report seeks to examine the financial viability or otherwise of producing sodium silicate from silica sand and sodium carbonate (dense) in Nigeria.

Sodium silicate is one of various water – soluble substances obtained in the form of crystals, glass, powder or aqueous solutions by chemical fusion of silica sand and soda ash.

At present, there are forty (40) varieties of commercial sodium silicate, each with a specific use. Sodium silicate is an essential raw material in the manufacture of washing soap, ceramic wares, flooring and metal foils, paper boards and corrugated containers, wall board etc. Vitreous silica compounds (glass bottles and tumblers) are also produced in a suction fed type blowing machine.

Sodium Silicate is a colourless compound of oxides of sodium and silica. It has a range of chemical formula varying in sodium oxide (Na2O) and silicon dioxide or silica (SiO2) contents or ratios. It is soluble in water and it is prepared by reacting silica sand and sodium carbonate at a high temperature ranging from 1200oC to 1400OC. Aqueous solution of sodium silicate is called water glass.

Sodium silicates are produced in the form of a variety of compounds ranging from Na2O.4SiO2 to 2Na2O.SiO2 by properly proportioning the reactants. Sodium silicates varying in ratio from Na2O.1.6SiO2 to Na2O.4SiO2 are known as colloidal silicates. These are sold as 20% to 50% aqueous solutions called water glass.

Sodium metasilicate has the ratio of Na2O.SiO2 and is a definite crystalline compound, which forms various hydrates. Substances having higher sodium oxide content are sodium squisilicate 1.5Na2O.SiO2 and sodium orthosilicate 2Na2O.SiO2. The more alkaline silicates including sodium metasilicate (Na2O.SiO2) are crystalline materials with definite structures and characteristic properties.

These are used chiefly as cleaners and detergents. The more siliceous sodium silicates are glasses, typical non-crystalline solid solutions, which are important mostly for their adhesive and binding properties.

The demand for sodium silicate is quite high in Nigeria and the raw material is also available in commercial quantity.