Treatment of materials

摘要

The present invention relates to the treatment of gel materials to remove water therefrom. The invention provides a process for removing water from a gel material by contacting the gel material with a gaseous mixture of an organic compound and a gas. The organic compound, the gas and conditions of contacting are selected such that water is extracted from the gel material and passes into the gaseous mixture. The invention in one embodiment may be used to dry gel materials while maintaining an open porous network therein.