Preparation of Porous Silica Microspheres by Polymerization-Induced Colloid Aggregation Method

The UF resin/SiO2 composites microspheres with particle size of 2μm were successfully prepared by polymerization of silica sol from base-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate, and urea-formaldehyde via the PICA approach, and then calcination in air to remove organic UF resin and yield porous silica microspheres. The samples were characterized by Zetasizer NanoZS Instrument, SEM and Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results showed that the synthesized porous silica microspheres with a BET surface area of 67.01m2/g, a BJH average pore size diameter of 37.32 nm and a total pore volume of 0.69cm3/g, respectively.