Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
ULTRASONIC-ASSISTED PARAMETRIC STUDY OF MAGNESIUM
OXIDE NANOPARTICLE SYNTHESIS USING SOL-GEL METHOD
A Thesis (Proposal)
Presented to
The Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology
College of Engineering and Technology
MSU – Iligan Institute of Technology
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
By
Louell Nikki A. Hipulan
Marevin Jane D. Solo
Joan DS. Tabunyag
Shashwa M. Usop
Dr. Arnold A. Lubguban
Thesis Adviser
November 2018
Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
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Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Nanoscience and nanotechnology has been leading to a technological revolution
in the world (Tang & Lv, 2014). Due to their applications in the field of optical
electronics, sensing devices and nanoelectronics, metal oxide nanomaterials having high
surface area have attracted considerable interest for scientific research (Sharma, Ghandi
& Sharma, 2018).
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is an essential metal oxide which functions as catalyst,
additive material in paint and high fuel oil, toxic waste remediation agent,
superconductor, and curative agent in pharmaceutical applications (Salem et al. 2015).
It possesses properties like low electrical conductivity, higher thermal stability, and
wide band gap which can be improved further at the nanoparticle size. Many parameters
such as pH, ionic strength, temperature of precipitation and different calcinations
temperature can control the size and morphology of oxide nanoparticle (Sharma,
Ghandi & Sharma, 2018). Over the past decades, various precursors were used in the
synthesis of nanosized MgO such as magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate and
basic magnesium carbonate (Nusheh et al.,2010; Kumari et al.,2009). MgO nanoparticles
are usually synthesized by several methods such as sol-gel, chemical gas phase
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Iligan Institute of Technology
deposition, hydrothermal, micro emulsion, laser vaporization, and combustion aerosol
synthesis (Mirzaei & Davoodnia, 2012). Moreover, these require high temperature and
knowledgable and/or expensive apparatuses. Sol-gel method is a chemical process but is
a promising option in the synthesis and large-scale production of magnesium oxide
nanostructure (Kumar & Kumar, 2008), because of its simplicity, cost effectiveness,
high yield of nanoparticles, and low reaction temperature (Tang & Lv, 2014).
Sonochemistry is where molecules undergo a chemical reaction due to the
application of powerful ultrasound radiation (20 kHz–10 MHz) (Qiao, Liu, & Max Lu,
2017). The physical phenomenon causing sonochemical effects in liquids is the process
called acoustic cavitation. Acoustic cavitation technique or Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis
has attracted much attention because it is simple, energy efficient, cost and time saving
technology. The mechanism of sonochemistry is the creation, growth, and collapse of a
bubble that is formed in the liquid (Pinjari & Pandit, 2012).
In this study, a facile route for the synthesis of nanocrystalline MgO will be used to
produce not only smaller size of particles but also of high surface area using an ultrasonic-
assisted sol-gel method.
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Iligan Institute of Technology
1.2 Problem Statement
Magnesium oxide nanoparticles have broad application thus; large-scale
production is highly in demand. Sol-gel, chemical gas phase deposition,
hydrothermal, micro emulsion, laser vaporization, combustion aerosol synthesis
are some methods used to synthesize MgO nanoparticles. Among these, Sol-gel
process is the most promising option despite being a chemical method. With its
advantages, sol-gel has attracted a lot of researchers. The increase interest of sol-
gel method for nano-sized oxide fuels the discovery of new facile route for the
synthesis of nano-sized MgO.
1.3 Objectives
1.3.1 General Objectives
The main objective of this study is to produce more purified MgO
nanoparticles with high yield using a modified Sol-gel method.
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
1. To examine factors affecting the change in size and yield of MgO
nanoparticles using one-factor-at-a-time method.
pH
Time of Reaction
2. To compare the conventional Sol-gel method with the ultrasonic-
assisted Sol-gel method in terms of size, high surface area and purity.
1.4 Significance of the Study
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Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
Nowadays, nanoparticles play a significant role in the field of science due to its
vast application in the industry, environmental and health products. Sol-gel technology
imparts competency to affect the substructure of materials by controlling the nature and
the kinetics of reactions. This capability allows us to produce novel nanoparticles,
robust molecular and pore morphologies, and avoid high-temperature reactions in a low
cost approach. Understanding the basis for the creation of structural variations in sol-gel
processes should have significant impact on the technologies and systems that use these
materials. In this article, some fundamental aspects of sol-gel processes and
thermochemical bases for process-induced structural variates are discussed.
1.5 Scope and Limitations
The scope of this research regards only to the molecularly contrived
MgO through sol-gel approach. Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate dissolved in
water will be used as a precursor. The pH of the solution will be altered using
sodium hydroxide and oxalic acid. The parameters in attaining desirable
physicochemical characteristics like shapes and sizes of MgO nanoparticles
include different material techniques: UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-Ray
diffraction, Fourier Transformation-Infrared spectroscopy and Scanning electron
microscope. This study also focuses on the comparison of the attained results on
the varying parameters and conventional with the ultrasonic assisted sol-gel
method.
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Iligan Institute of Technology
This will be limited only to information that is being fed from literatures
as well as the yield of the experiment the researchers have conducted. The
various materials on experimentation and characterization will also be limited to
the availability of the locality.
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Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
