Risilica, a portfolio firm of the Russian Venture Company (RVC) Seed Fund, has launched an experimental-lab technological line to develop amorphous silicon dioxide from rice husk, RVC reports.

The production complex is located in Moscow’s Technopolis Moskvich.

Amorphous silicon dioxide (ASD), also called aerosil, is widely used in thin technology chemistry for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paint and coatings industry, as well as production of silicon rubber, sealing compounds, lubricants, and composite materials.

Risilica’s technology refers to the “green chemistry”. The technology allows to make ecologically clean dishes from agricultural waste products, such as rice husk and rice straw. The patented technology uses unique equipment for producing silicon compounds using material and thermal potential of rice husk.

Sergey Pisarenko, CEO of Risilica, “Under our estimates, the new technology will lower cost of aerosil production by 20 times, if compared with existing technologies. Quality-wise, ASD is an analogue to globally known product AEROSIL by Evonik.”

According to research by the company Milestone, ASD market on average grows by 5% annually. In 2011 the ASD market topped $900m, and in 2020 it is expected to grow to $1.5bn.

Under further plans, Risilica will build a pilot complex to produce ASD in Krasnodar region, the main “rice region” in Russia. For that project, the company has started looking for the second round investor.