Amorphous very high surface area silica macrostructures

A procedure for the preparation of amorphous silica spherical macroparticle s using strongly basic anion exchange gel resins as shape directing macro-t emplates is presented. Resin beads were hydrothermally treated with either clear homogeneous TPA-silicate solutions containing tetraethoxysilane, tetr apropylammonium hydroxide and distilled water or with sodium silicate solut ions. As a result of the ion exchange of silica species into the resin stru cture, resin-silicate composites were formed. After separation and drying o f the resin-silicate composites, the resin was removed by combustion leavin g solid spherical silica particles with surface areas exceeding 1000 m(2) g (-1). Two types of gel resins having different active groups and degrees of cross-linking were employed and the products obtained were characterised b y SEM, Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption measurements. The type of the resin as well as the type of silicate solution used were of great impo rtance for the pore structure of the final materials.