Rice hulls
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Rice hulls (or rice husks) are the hard protecting coverings of grains of rice. In addition to protecting rice during the growing season, rice hulls can be put to use as building material, fertilizer, or fuel.
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[edit] Production
Rice hulls are the coating for the seeds, or grains, of the rice plant. To protect the seed during the growing season, the hull is made of hard materials, including opaline silica and lignin. The hull is mostly indigestible to humans. During the milling process, the hulls are removed from the grain to create brown rice.
[edit] Use as building material
Rice hulls are a class A insulating material because they are difficult to burn and less likely to allow moisture to propagate mold or fungi. It was found out that rice hull when burned produced amounts of silica. For these reasons it provides excellent thermal insulation.
In 1987, a house was built in Quezon City using Portland cement mixed with rice hull ash and lime as the main building material. The house was still standing in 2002.
[edit] Use as fertilizer
Rice hulls are organic material and can be composted. However, their high lignin content can make this a slow process. Sometimes earthworms are used to accelerate the process. Using vermicomposting techniques, the hulls can be converted to fertilizer in about four months.
[edit] Use in industry
Rice hulls are a low-cost material from which silicon carbide "whiskers" can be manufactured. The SiC whiskers are then used to reinforce ceramic cutting tools, increasing their strength ten-told.
[edit] Use as fuel
With proper techniques, rice hulls can be burned and used to power steam engines. Some rice mills originally dispose off the hulls in this way.
[edit] Rice husk ash
The ash produced after the husks have been burned, (abbreviated to RHA), is high in silica. A number of possible uses are being investigated for this. These uses include
- aggregates and fillers for concrete and board production
- absorbents for oils and chemicals
- soil ameliorants
- as a source of silicon
- as insulation powder in steel mills
- as repellants in the form of "vinegar-tar"
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Composting rice hulls to make fertilizer
- The Rice Hull House where rice hulls are used for insulation
- Using rice hull ash in housing
- Rice hulls as boiler fuel
- Uses for rice husk ash, or RHA
- Rice hulls used in cutting tool industry
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