Patent ID: 6398962
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B01D,B01J,G01N

Abstract:
A process for preparative chromatographic separation of at least two substances, comprising chromatographically separating said at least two substances using a monolithic sorbent based on shaped SiO2 bodies, wherein said bodies have macropores with a median diameter of 2 to 20 &mgr;m and mesopores with a median diameter from 2 to 100 nm, wherein said bodies are prepared by:a) dissolving a water-soluble polymer or some other pore forming agent and a precursor for a matrix dissolving agent in a medium that promotes the hydrolysis of metalorganic compounds; b) mixing a metalorganic compound which contains hydrolysable ligands in the medium to promote a hydrolysis reaction thereof c) solidifying the mixture through the sol-gel transition, whereby a gel is prepared which has three-dimensional interconnected phase domains, one rich in solvent and the other rich in an inorganic compound in which surface pores are contained; d) setting the matrix dissolving agent free from its precursor, whereby the matrix dissolving agent modifies the structure of said inorganic component; and e) calcining the gel to form the porous SiO2 bodies.