Abstract: A novel water detection composition for use in place of blue gel and a water detection indicator. The water detection composition comprises, as active components, a porphyrin complex, and at least one inorganic acid salt of a metal selected from a group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Al and Fe. The porphyrin complex is: wherein M is P, X is selected from a group consisting of a halogen and OH, and R2 is phenyl, and the water detection composition is supported by a silica gel.

Abstract: A silicic acid component supplying agent for algae to be added to water in which algae requiring silicic acid to grow live, in order to supply a silicic acid component to the algae. The agent includes a silicic acid gel, as a main component, obtained by previously causing a reaction between an alkali metal silicate and a mineral acid within a system other than the water in which the algae live.

Abstract: In a cooling apparatus, air within a room is first introduced into a radiator-type adsorber (1), where moisture contained in the air is adsorbed by A-type silica gel. The resulting low-humidity air is subsequently introduced into a desorption cooler (5), where moisture is desorbed from B-type silica gel, thereby humidifying and cooling the air. The resulting low-temperature air is then used for cooling. When a cooling capacity of the cooling apparatus is lowered, air from a heat source is introduced into the radiator-type adsorber (1), where the moisture is desorbed from the A-type silica gel, thereby recovering the adsorbability thereof. The high-humidity air resulting from the desorption of the moisture is subsequently introduced into the desorption cooler (5), where the moisture contained in the air is adsorbed by the B-type silica gel, thereby recovering the desorption cooling capacity thereof.

Abstract: There is proposed a silica gel for preventing the generation of haze in beer, a method of manufacturing the silica gel and a method of stabilization treatment of beer. The silica gel is provided with a specific surface area of 700-1000 m2/g, a pore volume of 1.1-1.6 ml/g and a average pore diameter of 6-10 nm, and has a relatively high adsorbability per unit weight. In the method of manufacturing the silica gel, the washed, hydrothermally treated, acid treated, ground and dried silica hydrogel is calcined at 400-800° C. for 10 seconds to 10 hours. A haze causing component can be removed from beer by contacting the silica gel with the beer and subsequently separating the silica gel from the beer.

Abstract: A fertilizer especially suitable for gramineous plants which has a high supplying ability and a high absorption/availability efficiency of silicic acid and a method for using the same. Silica gel was applied to a test field of paddy rice by 50 g/m2. The silicic acid content in stalks and leaves of paddy rice became extremely high compared with a case where a conventional silicic acid fertilizer was applied. As the result, the stalks became strong by being silicificated and therefore were prevented from being borne down even when ears became heavy with rice, and the harvest yield of rice increased.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel filter aid which has excellent filtration properties and forms a stable cake layer on a filter member. The filter aid includes a flake-like, scale-like, or rod-like silica gel as a primary component thereof. The silica gel is approximately 5 through 100 micrometer in grain diameter and has a pore volume of approximately 0.2 through 1.5 ml/g and a specific surface area of approximately 100 through 1,000 m.sup.2 /g.