Abstract: A system and a method for treating chemical byproducts within an analyte solution are disclosed. The system comprises a container for storing the analyte solution, a cartridge with one or more columns, a light source, an ultrasonic source, and a control system. The cartridge and the columns are fluidly connected to the container via a circulating line using a pump. The cartridge and the columns include adsorbent and absorbent materials, porous adsorbents, and nano-porous adsorbents to effectively adsorb and absorb the chemical byproducts such as metal ions, the organic compounds, and the inorganic compounds presented within the analyte solution. The light source is configured to transmit light signals into the cartridge and the columns and the ultrasonic source is configured to send ultrasound waves, thereby increasing the rate of adsorption and absorption of the chemical byproducts such as metal ions, organic compounds, and inorganic compounds within the analyte solution.

Abstract: A silica composition and a method for forming the silica composition using low surfactant concentrations are disclosed. A metal silicate precursor including a silica source and a hydroxide MOH is prepared, where M is a cation with a valence of 1. In addition, a surfactant solution including a cationic surfactant and an anionic co-surfactant is prepared. Next, the metal silicate precursor and the surfactant solution are mixed to form a mixture. Then the mixture is crystallized to form the silica composition and the silica composition is isolated. The cationic surfactant can have 10 or more carbon atoms, the anionic co-surfactant can have 4 or more carbon atoms, the molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to the silica source can be less than or equal to 0.1:1, the molar ratio of the anionic co-surfactant to the silica source can be less than or equal to 0.1:1, and the molar ratio of the anionic co-surfactant to the silica source can be less than the molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to the silica source.

Abstract: A silica composition and a method for forming the silica composition using low surfactant concentrations are disclosed. A metal silicate precursor including a silica source and a hydroxide MOH is prepared, where M is a cation with a valence of 1. In addition, a surfactant solution including a cationic surfactant and an anionic co-surfactant is prepared. Next, the metal silicate precursor and the surfactant solution are mixed to form a mixture. Then the mixture is crystallized to form the silica composition and the silica composition is isolated. The cationic surfactant can have 10 or more carbon atoms, the anionic co-surfactant can have 4 or more carbon atoms, the molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to the silica source can be less than or equal to 0.1:1, the molar ratio of the anionic co-surfactant to the silica source can be less than or equal to 0.1:1, and the molar ratio of the anionic co-surfactant to the silica source can be less than the molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to the silica source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a partially silylated silica having at a surface thereof hydrophilic sites defined by non-silylated hydroxyl groups. The method of the invention comprises the steps of (a) providing a micelle templated silica having at a surface thereof surfactant-protected hydroxyl groups and unprotected hydroxyl groups; (b) treating the micelle templated silica with a base-generating silylating agent to silylate the unprotected hydroxyl groups and thereby obtain a partially silylated micelle templated silica; and (c) treating the partially silylated micelle templated silica with an acid to displace the surfactant, thereby obtaining a partially silylated silica having at the surface thereof hydrophilic sites defined by non-silylated hydroxyl groups. Such a partially silyalated silica having hydrophilic sites is useful as a catalyst support and for ion exchange in chromatography.