Conventional silica is derived from sand and is present in a crystalline form, which is transformed into amorphous through chemical and mechanical processes.

 

Sand is the third most used resource after air and water, and is a prime constituent in silica production.

 

50 billion tons of sand is mined per annum leading to devastating ecological and sociological consequences - The Sand Crisis.

 

Moreover, the conventional silica production process requires very high-temperature (1000oC – 2000oC) and consumes a lot of energy, resulting in high productions cost.