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Nanocrystalline Silica from Termite Mounds


Affiliations
1 Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre, Phase-X, Sector–64, Mohali 160 062, India
2 Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India
3 Department of Chemistry, Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
 

To develop a better understanding of the physical properties and microstructures of the termite hill soils, we have carried out studies on the soil samples collected from two locations: near Dehradun, Utta-rakhand and near Hauz Khas, New Delhi. Their ele-mental composition and microstructure were studied using different instrumentation techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron.

Microscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX). α-Quartz (SiO2) was present in both the samples, while the sample collected from Hauz Khas, Delhi also con-tained β-cristobalite phase of SiO2. TEM-EDAX showed that termite hill soil consisted of silica (quartz), aluminium oxide, manganese oxide and iron oxide along with small percentage of potassium and calcium. Our studies highlight the potential to gene-rate α-quartz from all termite hills. It is also possible to obtain the less common β-cristobalite form of silica in certain termite mounds.


Keywords

β-Cristobalite, α-Quartz, Termite Mound, Silica.
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  • Nanocrystalline Silica from Termite Mounds

Abstract Views: 256  |  PDF Views: 86

Authors

Ashok K. Ganguli
Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre, Phase-X, Sector–64, Mohali 160 062, India
Sandeep Kumar
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India
Arabinda Baruah
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India
Sonalika Vaidya
Department of Chemistry, Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India

Abstract


To develop a better understanding of the physical properties and microstructures of the termite hill soils, we have carried out studies on the soil samples collected from two locations: near Dehradun, Utta-rakhand and near Hauz Khas, New Delhi. Their ele-mental composition and microstructure were studied using different instrumentation techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron.

Microscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX). α-Quartz (SiO2) was present in both the samples, while the sample collected from Hauz Khas, Delhi also con-tained β-cristobalite phase of SiO2. TEM-EDAX showed that termite hill soil consisted of silica (quartz), aluminium oxide, manganese oxide and iron oxide along with small percentage of potassium and calcium. Our studies highlight the potential to gene-rate α-quartz from all termite hills. It is also possible to obtain the less common β-cristobalite form of silica in certain termite mounds.


Keywords


β-Cristobalite, α-Quartz, Termite Mound, Silica.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv106%2Fi1%2F83-88