Rice Straw Ash Research Articles

Environmental and economic impacts of processing rice straw with water for energy and coproducts

Incorporating supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) such as rice straw ash (RSA) as cement replacement in concrete is a key path toward mitigating the contributions of cement to global climate change. A cost-benefit study and an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) were performed to compute the impacts of water soaking, drying, and reverse osmosis (RO) of the leachate to factor in the use of rice straw as feedstock at biomass energy plants, RSA for concrete, and the RO-treated leachate as fertilizer and water for farms. The cost-benefit analysis showed that the sale of electrical energy from biomass, RSA, and fertilizer required further optimization of the processes to become profitable for the involved parties. The LCA showed a global warming avoidance equivalent to net -15kgCO2-eq per tonne of rice straw that could be achieved by substituting fossil fuel energy resources and cement avoidance in concrete.

Characterising Rice Straw Ash: Unlocking the Potential of Agricultural Residues

Air pollution has become a scourge to contend with in India. The recorded concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere, the unabated emission of pollutants from vehicular exhausts, and recurring episodes of extremely poor condition (AQI>300) in the winter months, have rightfully and necessarily, spurred efforts in the industrial, governmental and research spheres to alleviate its detrimental impacts. Various point sources like biomass burning, coal combustion for power generation, and traditional agricultural practices such as stubble burning, collectively contribute to a steady rise in ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution. This study focuses on the utilization of rice straw – an abundant agricultural residue in a country like India – motivated by promoting and contributing to the soil-to-soil circularity paradigm. It encompasses the characterisation of straw ash from the rice, by delineating its physical properties, thermal characteristics, and chemical composition with the help of Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The results indicate that rice straw ash (RSA) possesses high silica content and favorable thermal stability. The RSA exhibited a porous structure, which enhances nutrient adsorption and microbial activity. Its incorporation into soil significantly improved soil nutrition and health, promoting a more sustainable agricultural practice. Entrenching this soil-to-soil thinking will contribute directly and indirectly to a host of sustainable development goals in a future Indian circular bioeconomy.

Biochar & fly ash amendments lower mortality and increase antioxidant activity in chlorpyrifos-exposed earthworms

The investigation presented a novel finding regarding mitigating stress induced by chlorpyrifos in Eisenia fetida by incorporating biochar derived from rice straw and fly ash as soil amendments. It was observed that phenolic compounds exhibit solubility in methanol, and the methanolic fraction exhibited notable inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation and displayed antioxidant properties. The defence mechanism of E. fetida, comprising catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and various other enzymes, remained effective in neutralizing stressors without disruption when the earthworm was subjected to diverse chemical agents or stressful conditions. These enzymes served as indicative markers of toxicity induced by pesticide exposure, even at sublethal concentrations. The scavenging of free radicals by these enzymes ultimately safeguarded the organism. Fly ash and biochar emerged as two organic alternatives capable of alleviating stress by providing a protective mechanism. In this context, the study examined the impact of biochar and fly ash amendments on earthworm biomarkers. The mortality rate at the median lethal concentration of chlorpyrifos was reduced to less than 50% through 3% and 5% modifications. In contrast to the non-amendment group exposed to sublethal doses, the amendment group exhibited higher levels of oxidative stress and lower protein content. This observation indicated the presence of stress induced by the accumulation of free radicals, which increased in number with higher doses of chlorpyrifos. Moreover, the study highlighted the interconnected nature of total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic capacity values, with a decrease in these parameters signifying a shift in earthworm biomarkers.Graphical abstract

Valorization of agriculture waste: Preparation of alkoxysilanes from mixed rice straw and rice husk ash

Synthesis of alkoxysilanes from renewable silica resources could promote their sustainability but remain grand challenges. Herein, we present a simple, effective strategy to synthesize tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) directly from bio-derived silica through supercritical ethanol processing, where no catalyst nor additives are required. Crucially, calcination temperature is demonstrated to play a critical role in altering the structure of silica in rice husk ash (RHA), which directly influences its conversion activity to alkoxysilanes. Specifically, under optimized conditions at 280 °C and 1 h, RHA obtained at 400–625 °C calcination allows for an amorphous silica structure and as high as 85 mol% yield to alkoxysilanes. Moreover, the ash obtained from mixed rice straw and rice husk yields over 94 mol% alkoxysilanes, demonstrating the self-catalytic potential of the natural complexity of the ash. The effects of typical minerals contained in ash on the reaction are probed. It is revealed that potassium oxide is the main catalytic species in ash, which provide a suitable alkaline strength. The concentration of potassium ion exhibits a pronounced positive effect on catalyzing the synthesis of alkoxysilanes, and the co-existed phosphorus species exhibits promotional effect to TEOS selectivity. Furthermore, 29Si MAS NMR and Laplacian bond order analysis reveal that the cleavage of Si-O-Si bond predominates in the supercritical ethanol environment, providing a viable path for the production of TEOS.

Influence mechanisms of silica nanoparticles’ property enhancement in cementitious materials and their green synthesis: A critical review

Green synthesis of silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) from agricultural residues is a promising avenue for cementitious materials application. However, very few studies are dedicated to reviewing the influence mechanisms underlying the green synthesis methods and the mechanisms governing their effectiveness in property enhancement in cementitious materials. Our review established that the influence mechanisms of green synthesis of SiO2-NPs include fracturing, polymerization, solubilization, and oxidoreductase. The highest silica purity of over 99 % was mainly reported in chemical sol-gel synthesis, meanwhile, the biggest surface area was reported with mechanical milling of up to 1441 m2/g from rice straw ash. SiO2-NPs were found to enhance the cementitious matrix mainly through nucleation seeding and pozzolanicity. Our review critically discusses other influence mechanisms of the hydration kinetics and interfacial transition zone, pore structure, and matrix densification optimization. SiO2-NPs were reported to enhance the early compressive strength of cementitious materials, sulfate attack resistance, and chloride permeability by up to 100.6 %, 79 %, and 86.2 % respectively. Optimum dosages based on compressed strength improvement varied mainly between 1.0 % and 4.0 %. Existing research seems not to address how the synthesis influencing parameters, such as pH, gelation time, temperature, and milling parameters could be optimized, hence an avenue for future research.

Influence of Rice Straw Ash on Workability and Strength of Concrete

Cement manufacturing is a major contributor to the waste of energy as about 3.4GJ of thermal energy is needed to produce 1 tonne of Portland cement, not to mention the emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon di oxide due to the calcination of limestone during Portland cement production. These emissions have caused a dramatic rise in global warming. There is a pressing need for innovative recycling technology that can reduce the negative effects of waste on ecosystems and people. Rice straws are the waste produced after the threshing of rice. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of rice straw ash on workability and strength of concrete. The rice straw used was the straw of a specific rice variety locally called mass I gotten from Akpugo, Enugu, Nigeria. The rice straw was calcined by open burning to produce the rice straw ash (RSA). The materials used were preliminary tested to determine their physical properties and chemical composition. The rice straw ash was used to replace Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30% respectively. The workability and compressive strength test were done for all replacement levels. Using slump test, the concrete workability was evaluated. For this study, 72 cubes were cast, cured in water for 7, 14, 21, and 28days before been tested under compression. From the investigation, percentage increase in RSA replacement decreased the concrete workability. The sample containing 0%, 5%, and 10% RSA attained 9%, 6.1% and 2.2% more strength compared to the design strength at 28th day of curing. While the 15%, 20% and 30% attained 17.3%, 28.9% and 67.6% lower strength compared to the design strength at 28th day of curing. The experimental result was analysed using statistical product and service solution (SPSS) and excel spreadsheet regression (ESR). This study suggests that the optimum replacement level of rice straw ash from structural reinforced grade 25 concrete point of view is 10%. The predictive models were tested and found to be adequate.

Experimental Investigation on Concrete with Partial Replacement of Cement by Using Ash of Agro -Waste (RHA, RSA) With Cow dung Ash

The rising cost of building construction materials is the factor of great concern. We all want that our building be strong and should build with the construction material of reasonable rates. Nowadays, most of the researches are doing the research on the material which can reduce the cost of construction as well as increase the strength which waste materials are used in concrete in the replacement of any ingredient are selected according to their properties. This project paper is written to show the effect on concrete with for partial replacement of cement with cow dung as hand agricultural waste like rice husk as hand rice straw ash. Cement is replaced in concrete with ash(RHA,RSA,CDA) in various proportion by weight (like 5%, 10% and 15%) and the compressive & tensile strength of concrete were found at different curing periods (7,14 and 28 days). Various tests are conducted on samples like determination bulk density, settling time and workability of cow dung ash in different proportion. Cow dung ash (CDA) is economical in terms of cost & this reducing the environmental risk, maintaining the ecological balance.

Rice straw ash and amphibian health: A deep dive into microbiota changes and potential ecological consequences

Rice straw is burned as a result of agricultural practices and technical limitations, generating significant volumes of ash that might have environmental and ecological consequences; however, the effects on organisms have not been researched. Amphibians depend on their gut and skin microbiomes. Ash exposure may cause inflammation and changes in microbial diversity and function in frogs' skin and gut microbiota due to its chemical composition and physical presence, but the implications remain unclear. Rana dybowskii were exposed to five aqueous extracts of ashes (AEA) concentrations for 30 days to study survival, metal concentrations, and microbial diversity, analyzing the microbiota of the cutaneous and gut microbiota using Illumina sequencing. Dominant elements in ash: K > Ca > Mg > Na > Al > Fe. In AEA, K > Na > Ca > Mg > As > Cu. Increased AEA concentrations significantly reduced frog survival. Skin microbiota alpha diversity varied significantly among all treatment groups, but not gut microbiota. Skin microbiota differed significantly across treatments via Bray-Curtis and weighted UniFrac; gut microbiota was only affected by Bray-Curtis. Skin microbiota varied significantly with AEA levels in Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes, while the gut microbiota's dominant phyla, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria, remained consistent across all groups. Lastly, the functional prediction showed that the skin microbiota had big differences in how it worked and looked, which were linked to different health and environmental adaptation pathways. The gut microbiota, on the other hand, had smaller differences. In conclusion, AEA exposure affects R. dybowskii survival and skin microbiota diversity, indicating potential health and ecological impacts, with less effect on gut microbiota.

Research and evaluate the potential of rice husk ash and rice straw ash for soil improvement in Vietnam

Rice husk ash and rice straw ash are common agricultural wastes in developing countries. Currently, utilizing these wastes in the construction sector such as soil improvement and cement concrete production is a trend in many areas around the world. In Vietnam, with a rice production of more than 40 million tons/year, millions of tons of rice husk ash and straw ash can be generated. This is an abundant and a cheap material source. This article will research and evaluate the potential of rice husk ash and straw ash for soft soil improvement in Vietnam. Research results show that straw ash and rice husk ash are materials having high pozzolan activity. Various studies in the world and some studies in Vietnam showed that rice husk ash and straw ash not only improve some physical and mechanical properties of soil but can also partially replace the amount of binder. Vietnam has different types of soft soil and construction activities are increasing, so the demand for improving soft soil is also increasing. In which, improving soil with cement binder is one of the most popular methods. Therefore, rice husk ash and rice straw ash have great potential to combine with cement in improving soft soil in Vietnam. Utilizing these wastes not only helps reduce the negative impact their causes on the environment but also helps improve construction quality and reduce construction costs.

Utilization of Agricultural By-Products as a Partial Replacement of Cement in Construction: A Review

Food and Shelter are the two main requirements for surviving in this cosmos. More than 50% of the geographical area of the country is under cultivation. After harvesting the rice crop there is a common practice to set fields on fire. This stubble burning creates havoc causing a large number of health hazards and also affects the soil properties. This method of decomposition of agricultural residue including rice straw and rice husk if replaced with some standard combustion conditions, temperature, and rapid cooling of ash produced, will prove beneficial to the construction industry. This review paper explores the possibility of utilizing these agricultural waste products i.e. Rice Straw Ash (RSA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as a partial replacement of cement in concrete and analyzing the fresh and hardened properties of concrete. Research gaps and future scope of this study are also highlighted in this review paper. It has been observed that the physical, chemical, and strength properties of concrete are mostly affected by the pozzolan city of the ashes and compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete increases with increase in replacement level of cement with the agricultural ash up-to certain optimal levels. Various other factors that contribute to the enrichment of the existing properties of the resulting concrete include grinding, fineness and porosity of ashes.

Synthesis and Characterization of Silica and Silica Cellulose from Natural Materials as Matrix for Various Sensor Applications: A Mini Review

Sensors play a crucial role in various fields by enabling the detection and analysis of a wide range of substances, including hazardous substance detection, environmental and food safety monitoring, pharmaceutical industry, gas analysis, and others. Research continues to identify and develop sensor matrix materials that can increase the sensitivity, selectivity and responsiveness of sensors. Silica, an oxide mineral is a potential matrix material for sensor applications because of its unique characteristics. It has a large pore structure and modifiable pore size distribution. Silica’s stable chemical properties, high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance make it an ideal matrix material for a wide range of sensor applications. In recent years, silica cellulose also become a potential material for sensor applications. Silica cellulose is produced by combining silica with cellulose components from natural materials, such as rice husk ash, bamboo leaf ash, rice straw ash, and other plant fibers. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of various methods of synthesis and characterization of silica and silica cellulose materials. The methods include sol-gel, acid leaching, alkaline extraction, and other techniques for extracting cellulose from natural sources. In addition, sensor applications that have been tested using this material are also discussed, including its use in detecting molecular compounds, food and environmental applications. The development of silica and silica cellulose materials based on natural materials is considered because of their sustainability. By continuing to explore the potential of these materials, it is hoped that it can make a significant contribution in the development of sensor technology that is more innovative, environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Effectiveness of bagasse and rice straw ashes against postharvest pest, Sitophilus zeamais on maize seed

Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the main pest on maize seed in the storage. In general, postharvest pest control uses synthetic insecticides. However, the use of these synthetic insecticides causes insect resistance and negative impact on human health. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of rice straw and bagasse ashes as inert dust in postharvest pest management of S. zeamais. This study was conducted at the Laboratory of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Hasanuddin. This study used two treatments with four different doses i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8 g, and untreated (control). The results showed that complete (100%) of adult mortality at highest dose (8 g/kg seed) of bagasse ash in three days after infestation, while in the higher doses (6 and 8 g/kg seed) of rice straw ash killed 99.15%. The use of inert dust also causes typical symptoms in mortality in the form of wings coming out of the elytra, which is different from adult mortality without treatment.

Potential of ash from agricultural waste as substitute of commercial FeCl3 in primary treatment of landfill leachate

Due to the ever increasing global population, higher volumes of industrial waste discharges to landfill have caused major problems for the environment. This study investigated the performance of rice straw ash (RSA) as a natural coagulant under different conditions for the treatment of landfill leachates by coagulation-flocculation and microfiltration, with and without addition of FeCl3. The highest performing treatment conditions (RSA = 2.48 g/L, FeCl3 = 4.98 g/L, settling time = 54.75min) were achieved with the combined use of RSA and FeCl3 as coagulant and led to a sludge volume index of 41.65 mL/g, 51.27% COD removal and 76.48% total suspended solid removal. In contrast, FeCl3 alone achieved slightly better COD and total suspended solid removal rates, however it resulted in higher sludge volume index and sludge production. The combined use of RSA and FeCl3 reduced the consumption of these two coagulants by 78.76% and 46.69% respectively. Functional groups and thermal stability of the flocs showed that RSA + FeCl3 synergistically enhance the mechanisms of the coagulation-flocculation process, including adsorption by particle's bridging, charge neutralization and size of flocs. Combining the coagulants resulted in increased van der Waals forces and lower attractive forces of the inter-colloidal energy barrier in the leachate. Additionally, the highest and lowest heavy metals removal rates for treatment by microfiltration were found for Fe (92.15%) and Mg (7.63%), with a total heavy metals removal efficiency in the range of 6.08–90.78%. The findings of this study show that RSA can serve as a natural eco-friendly coagulant both alone and in combination with FeCl3 in the leachate treatment.

Response Surface Methodology Approaches in Producing Amorphous Silica from Rice Straw Ash

A large amount of rice straw is produced as crop residue from rice production as an underutilization waste material. The open burning of rice straw can lead to environmental pollution by forming an abundant amount of rice straw ash (RSA) and exposing harmful gases to the atmosphere. Thus, RSA can be used as a cement replacement material due to its high amount of silica. Silica is a helpful additive to cement mix by accelerating the hydration process of cement because of its high reactivity and improving mortar performance. This study focuses amount of high silica of RSA in modified concrete through thermochemical pretreatment via response surface methodology (RSM). The factors involved in the pretreatment of RSA are 0.01M – 0.1M HCl hydrochloric acid, 1 – 3 hours soaking duration, and 60 - 80℃ soaking temperature, and a response is the percentage of reactive compound content (SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3). Therefore, central composite design (CCD) in the RSM and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) have been used to evaluate the interaction between the factors and response, then simulated and further assess the accuracy of the model to achieve the accurate prediction. As a result, RSM observed that the optimum silica amount in the treated RSA (98.34%) was produced using parameters of 0.06 M HCl, 2 hours of soaking duration, and 70℃ soaking temperature in the pretreatment process. After that, it is followed by a burning process at a controlled temperature and a grinding process to produce treated RSA. The prediction given by the RSM was not the sole result but was proved through X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The result of XRF analysis obtained for each model with the same value of each factor (HCl concentration = 0.06 M, soaking duration = 2 hours, and soaking temperature = 70℃) is more than 97.00% and falls between the prediction index range. Thus, the model is validated since the actual experimental result is within the expected range for any involved factor. Hence, the treated RSA was considered a high-quality pozzolanic material incorporated in the mortar production.

Agricultural waste as a replacement for admixture in concrete – A short review

There are a number of issues with managing the biomass waste generated from rice straw. These include field firing, which contributes to polluted air, and the organic decomposition procedures, which releases methane. There is a possibility that arises from the given situation where-in one can think of converting the waste to ash and then utilize the powder in the form of admixtures in concrete. It will help in reusing the waste materials found in abundance in a country like India with a phenomenal percent of the entire population feeding on rice. This culminates into realizing the amount of biomass waste produced by the country annually. In this era of ecological breakdown, one must review advanced methods which will help recycle the waste into forming green utilities. The aim of this review paper considers the properties of rice straw ash (RSA) and collectively studies the chemical influence of the same as a replacement of admixtures in variable percentages in concrete. The gamut of this paper revolves around reviewing the effect of RSA in place of admixtures in concrete. It is no mystery that production of cement which is an integral ingredient of concrete results in the emission of approximately 20% of global Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Globalization has led to faster growth and consumption of concrete structures that aid climate change. With utilization of waste materials as replacements in cement or admixtures, both environmental issues and waste disposal problems can be tackled at the same time.

Effects of biofertilizer supplementation, Rhodopseudomonas spp., on nitrogen and phosphorus uptakes, growth, and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) on salt-affected soil

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) biofertilizers on soil properties, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptakes, growth, and grain yield of sesame cultivated on salt-affected soil. N2-fixing and P-solubilizing bacteria used as biofertilizers were PNSB Rhodopseudomonas palustris VNW64, VNS89, TLS06 and VNS02, and endophytic bacteria (EB) Enterobacter cloacae X4 and Burkholderia acidipaludis X5. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design, with 9 treatments (i) 100% N and 100% P of recommended fertilizer formula (RFF), (ii) 75% N and 50% P, (iii) 50% N and 50% P, (iv) treatment ii plus PNSB biofertilizers, (v) treatment iii plus PNSB biofertilizers, (vi) treatment ii plus EB biofertilizers, (vii) treatment iii plus EB biofertilizers, (viii) PNSB biofertilizers only, and (ix) carriers only, a rice straw and hush ash mixture. Results revealed that application of PNSB biofertilizers significantly improved soil fertility, nutrient uptakes, and yield as compared to treatments that used chemical fertilizers with or without EB biofertilizers at the same amount of N and P fertilizers applied. The use of 75% N and 50% P of RFF plus PNSB biofertilizers enhanced soil pHH2O, NH4 +, soluble P, and N, P uptakes in sesame as compared to 100% N and 100% P of RFF. PNSB biofertilizers not only reduced 50% N and 50% P of RFF, but also maintained yield as compared to the treatment using 100% N, P of RFF (6.06 and 6.09 g pot−1, respectively) and limited Na uptake in sesame and Na+ concentration in the soil.

Effect of Agricultural Phragmites, Rice Straw, Rice Husk, and Sugarcane Bagasse Ashes on the Properties and Microstructure of High-Strength Self-Compacted Self-Curing Concrete

Each year, billions of tons of agricultural waste are generated globally. Egypt, being an agriculturally centered nation, faces significant challenges in disposing of this waste and coping with self-germinating plants that negatively impact agriculture. The common practice among farmers is to burn the waste, which exacerbates environmental concerns. With the global shift towards eco-friendly concrete, this study explores the utilization of agricultural waste ashes, particularly those abundant in Egypt and numerous other countries worldwide. Among the researched waste ashes are Phragmites ash (PGA), sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), rice husk ash (RHA), and rice straw ash (RSA). This investigation examines the impact of partially substituting cement with varying ash percentages from these wastes on the characteristics and properties of fresh and hardened high-strength self-compacting self-curing concrete (HSSCSCC). The findings indicate the potential applicability of these ashes in producing HSSCSCC, specifically highlighting the promising outcome of PG ash, which exhibited favorable results as a new type of natural ash suitable for the concrete industry.

Using eco-friendly glass from rice straw ash as a shield for cosmic rays

Using eco-friendly glass from rice straw ash as a shield for cosmic rays

Insight into the effect of rice-straw ash on enhancing the anaerobic digestion performance of high salinity organic wastewater

Anaerobic digestion is an economic method for treating high salinity organic wastewater (HSOW), but performance enhancement is needed because of the inhibitory effect of high salinity. In this study, rice-straw ash (RSA) was applied to alleviate the inhibitory effect during HSOW anaerobic digestion. The results showed that, when the NaCl content increased from 0% to 3.0%, the methane production decreased by 87.35%, and the TOC removal rate decreased to 34.12%. As a K+ and alkalinity source, RSA addition enhanced the anaerobic digestion performance, and the optimal dosage was 0.88 g/L. Under this dosage, the methane production increased by 221.60%, and TOC removal rate reached 66.42% at 3.0% salinity. The addition of RSA increased the proportion of living cells in the high salinity environment, and enhanced the activity of key enzymes and electron transfer efficiency in the anaerobic digestion process. The addition of RSA with a dosage of 0.88 g/L promoted the accumulation of acetoclastic methanogen Methanothrix. The abundance of substrate transporters, ion transporters and electron transfer related functional genes were enriched, which might be key for promoting HSOW anaerobic digestion performance. The results also showed that RSA addition played an important role in maintaining the stability of the anaerobic digestion system, and it could be a potential strategy for enhancing the anaerobic digestion performance under high salinity conditions.

Development of submerged arc welding flux from rice straw ash

ABSTRACTAt present, a large amount of rice straw ash is being dumped as waste creating soil and water pollution. The manufacturing of welding fluxes requires minerals which are mined out from the earth’s crust creating environmental ill effects. This paper presents a novel methodology for utilizing rice straw ash in the manufacturing of submerged arc welding (SAW) fluxes. The chemical composition of the joints produced with the developed flux is well within the acceptable range of American Welding Society (AWS) specifications. Their tensile strength and joint efficiency are 8% and 9% more than the joints produced with a commercial flux respectively. Their bead geometries are comparable to the beads deposited with the commercial flux. The joints are sufficiently ductile and could easily pass the bend test. The weld metal exhibits a desired microstructure containing acicular ferrite. This technology may turn the rice straw ash into a blessing in disguise.