Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Alcohol Ether Sulphate on the Properties of Porous Rice Husk Ash-based Geopolymer Foam

Rice husk is a typical solid waste generated during rice processing, typically disposed of by combustion or landfills. One promising method for repurposing rice husk ash is as a pozzolan in geopolymer foam. This study explores additives like hydrogen peroxide and sodium alcohol ether sulfate (SAES) to enhance the properties of porous geopolymer foam made from rice husk ash. Hydrogen peroxide is utilized as a foaming agent to enhance porosity, while SAES acts as a stabilizer to influence the structure of the foam. The foam was prepared by mixing sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide, rice husk ash, genioperl, hydrogen peroxide, and stabilizer in specific ratios. Two variables are hydrogen peroxide (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 wt.%) and SAES (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt.%). The compressive strength and total porosity tests are conducted according to standards. The results show that increased hydrogen peroxide increased total porosity but decreased compressive strength. On the other hand, SAES improved the foam’s structural integrity and maintained the compressive strength without significantly increasing porosity at 1.0 wt.% concentrations. The optimal total porosity and compressive strength were achieved with 0.40 wt.% hydrogen peroxide and 1.0 wt.% SAES. This study contributes to agriculture science and technology by exploring the potential use of rice husk ash-based geopolymer foam and determining the optimum formulation for its production. The findings also suggest that this foam can be utilized in various agricultural applications such as buildings, pipelines, and agriculture fields.