Silica is stored abundantly in soils and is absorbed in large amounts by plants. This is not harmful and, research suggests, may even be beneficial to the plants. In sugarcane, silica is stored in the plants shoots – which will eventually be among the bagasse. And it’s from this that researchers are working to extract silica for conversion into silicon.
AuthorLindiwe Khotseng
Lindiwe Khotseng is the Associate Professor at the Chemistry Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa since 2015.
Prior to working at the Chemistry Department, she worked as the Managing Director of ESKOM Centre for Electrocatalytic Research at the South African Institute for Materials Research, University of the Western Cape, South Africa since 2006. Lindiwe obtained her PhD in Chemistry, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, in 2004 and PG Diploma in T&L (HE) at the Univeristy of the Western Cape in 2022. Her research focus is on energy nanomaterials. She has published in qualified international journals or specialized books and presented at international chemical meetings. She has graduated MSc and PhD students. She has served in various leadership committees at her Faculty and NRF panels. She has obtained the Department of Trade Industry Technology award as the Outstanding Black Researcher in her research field in 2013. She is a professional member of South African Chemical Institute (SACI), Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE).