Abstract
We compare the methods of continuous solvent (Soxhlet) and supercritical solvent extractions for the removal of the organic template from nanostructured silica monoliths. Our monoliths are formed by templating the L 3 liquid crystal phase of cetylpyridinium chloride in aqueous solutions with tetramethoxy silane. The monoliths that result from both Soxhlet and supercritical extraction methods are mechanically robust, optically clear, and free of cracks. The Soxhlet method compares favorably with supercritical solvent extraction in that equivalent L 3-templated silica can be synthesized without the use of specialized reactor hardware or higher temperatures and high pressures, while avoiding noxious byproducts. The comparative effectiveness of various solvents in the Soxhlet process is related to the Hildebrand solubility parameter, determined by the effective surface area of the extracted silica.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 603-614 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Nanoparticle Research |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2006 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Bioengineering
- Chemistry(all)
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Modeling and Simulation
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
Keywords
- Extraction
- High surface area silica
- Nanostructured ceramics
- Supercritical solvent
- Synthesis