The project will develop a process for producing high-performance aerogel composite materials from agricultural by-products using advanced freeze-drying technology on a pilot scale. The expected output is the technological process of producing aerogel panels and aerogel composite panels from agricultural by-products with dimensions of 60 cm x 90 cm x 1 cm, used as insulation materials, food packages and oil adsorption, organic solvents.
The proposed solution is to take advantage of abundant agricultural by-products, combined with freeze-drying technology that optimizes operating conditions to create an aerogel composite product with properties equivalent to or superior to the commercial product but the price will be 3-4 times lower. It is expected that the price of aerogel composite products will range from 50,000 to 75,000 VND/sheet for size 20 cm x 30 cm x 1 cm.
In terms of technology, aerogel composite from agricultural by-products is produced using advanced manufacturing technology with outstanding features compared to other solutions on the market, specifically:
– Do not use toxic solvents but use water as a medium to disperse rice husk ash particles/cellulose fibers to create gel.
– Abundant input materials, biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
– The synthesis process is simple, closed, does not create toxic waste nor discharge any chemicals into the environment.
– The freeze drying method optimizes operating conditions so that energy costs are as low as possible.
Associate Professor Dr. Le Thi Kim Phung graduated with a PhD in Chemical Process Engineering from Sheffield University, United Kingdom in 2008. During her work at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Dr. Le Thi Kim Phung has completed many scientific and technological projects at the Provincial, City and State levels related to the production of products from natural raw materials. Specifically, in 2015 – 2017, the research team led by Associate Professor Dr. Le Thi Kim Phung completed a state-level task with the topic “Survey, evaluate, and build modern technology solutions, optimized to effectively use biomass waste resources (husk) towards sustainable energy production, serving the economic development of the Southwestern region” with pilot-scale products and Silica production process from rice husk ash which can be used in production. In 2019, the research team of Associate Professor Dr. Le Thi Kim Phung successfully accepted the An Giang provincial project “Research on the process of growing, processing and creating specialty products from Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze, Taccaceae in An Giang province” with products transferred to An Giang province
