HIGH VELOCITY, LOW PRESSURE PROCESS FOR MAKING SILICA GELS AND MICROGELS

摘要

This invention relates to a process for converting silica to polysilicate gels or hydrogels by combining an aqueous silica source with a CO₂ feed stream as the gel initiator, whereby the reaction stream is propelled at high velocity and turbulence maintaining the CO₂ uptake rate in the reaction stream. The invention also relates to a process for converting silica to polysilicate by pre-carbonating water at pressures of equal to or greater than 100 psig before initiating the polysilicate reaction.