Sustainable silicates and methods for their extraction

A target sodium silicate solution, comprising:

• sodium silicate converted from biogenic silica in an amorphous state with sodium hydroxide, wherein the biogenic silica is from rinsed ash of burned organic matter;
• and
• water, wherein the target sodium silicate solution has a ratio R of SiO2:Na2O by weight that is greater than or equal to 1.8, wherein the target sodium silicate solution has lower equivalent concentrations of contaminants and/or impurities when compared to a standardized sodium silicate solution, the lower equivalent concentrations of contaminants and/or impurities in the target sodium silicate solution including a combined chloride ion and sulfate ion concentration that is an equivalent concentration to less than or equal to 250 ppm and a total organic content that is an equivalent concentration to less than approximately 30 ppm in the standardized sodium silicate solution;
• wherein the standardized sodium silicate solution has approximately 37% solids by weight and has a ratio R by weight of SiO2 to Na2O that is approximately 3.3;
• and
• wherein the rinsed ash of burned organic matter has been rinsed with clean water and separated from contaminated rinse water, the contaminated rinse water containing chlorides, sulfates, and other water soluble contaminants.