Patent ID: 8026086

Claim:
A method for the co-production of silica and at least one other useful industrial chemical product, comprising the steps of: a) pre-treating siliceous plant matter to create a feedstock having exposed cellulose, wherein the siliceous plant matter is derived from members of the genus Equisetum; b) placing the feedstock in a reactor containing a biological agent effective to break down the cellulose into at least one useful organic chemical reaction product and a silica-containing co-product, wherein the biological agent comprises a culture of anaerobic thermophyllic bacteria, and wherein the useful organic chemical reaction product is selected from the group comprising ethanol, methane and hydrogen; c) separating the at least one useful organic chemical product from the reactor; d) separating the silica-containing co-product from the reactor; and e) refining the silica-containing co-product into silica or other industrially useful silicon-containing products.