Synthesis of Agro-waste-mediated Silica Nanoparticles: An Approach Towards Sustainable Agriculture

Open burning of agricultural residues, such as stalks, leaves, grasses, and husks causes environmental pollution at both provincial and worldwide scale. At the point when the crop residue is burnt, it releases dioxins, which remain in the environment for extended periods, leading to serious health problems for nearby populations. However, significant steps have been taken to find better ways of converting agricultural waste into valuable resources, which currently include developing mesoporous silica nanoparticles. By developing such nanomaterials from waste, the cost and the impact on environment can be reduced, thereby increasing the prospect of fabricating innovative nanomaterials in the coming years. This chapter presents literature related to green approaches to develop mesoporous silica by replacing potentially harmful expensive organosilicates as a silica source. The chapter examines research studies on the synthesis of mesoporous silica from crop residue specifically sugarcane leaves from four aspects, namely different methods of synthesis, characterization, recovery, and purity. Moreover, this chapter analyses the differences between conventional synthesis and green synthesis. It may help to reveal new findings and new trends in this field. In addition, interesting applications of mesoporous silica as a delivery vehicle for agri-inputs and its influence on improving crop yield are also described.