• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Neutralization of Fluosilicic Acid from the Production of Phosphoric Acid

Undergraduate #124
Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Pollution/Toxic Substances/Waste

Maci Joseph - Howard University
Co-Author(s): Alpha O. Toure and Cheikhou Kane, University of Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Dakar, Senegal, Africa



Fluosilicic acid (FSA) is a fluoridation agent that is produced as a byproduct of phosphoric acid manufacturing for fertilizers. Presently, there is no common treatment of this industrial wastewater for the manufacturer Industries Chimiques du Sénégal. As a result, the acid is being wasted into the water body on the coast of the West African country. Treatment of the waste can lead to the production of more valuable chemical processes for other industries. Neutralization of fluosilicic acid in a 29 weight-% solution of water with calcium hydroxide produces a filter cake of calcium fluoride, silica and water. After filtration and drying of the liquid phase, trials showed an inverse proportionality between humidity and reaction time as well as humidity and mass fraction of fluosilicic acid in solution. The cake produced at 10% excess, 1 hour reaction time and 29 weight-% FSA solution showed a chemical composition of 33.8% calcium, 31.6% fluorine and 10.8% silicon: consistent with the proposed chemical reation. It was concluded that the dry cake would be an efficient material for the production of white cement.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Science Foundation awarded to Lorraine Fleming, Wayne Patterson, and Mohamed Chouikha, Principal and Co-Principal Investigators of the Global Education, Awareness and Research Undergraduate Program (GEARUP), Howard University, Washington, DC. As well as Alpha Toure and Chiekhou Kane of the University of Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Biology, Laboratory of Electrochemistry and Membrane Process, Dakar, Senegal.

Faculty Advisor: Alpha Toure, alpha2re@gmail.com

Role: In this research, I was responsible for the background research, the basics of the experimentation, interpretation of the results and the writing of the research paper.

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science