Abstract: A process for forming a porous spherical silica material is provided. The process comprises mixing an alkali silicate with a mineral acid at pH and temperature sufficient to form a silica sol, mixing the silica sol with an oil and a surfactant to form a water-in-oil type emulsion, adding an alkaline solution to the emulsion to form a gel, adding a demulsifying agent and heating to a temperature of from about 60°° C. to about 90° C., and filtering, washing, optionally aging, and drying to obtain the porous spherical silica gel particles.

Abstract: An anchor for securing an object to a ground surface includes a lower portion having a screw thread extending from a bottom end to a top end thereof. A neck portion extends above the lower portion, is devoid of the screw thread, and terminates at a top end thereof at a first collar. A first loop of a flexible tether is fixed about the neck portion and confined thereto by the first collar and the screw thread. A second opposing loop of the tether is sized to accept the lower portion therethrough, including the thread, but not the first collar. With the tether fixed about the object and the bottom end of the lower portion traversing the second loop as the anchor is screwed into the ground surface, the loops are fixed about the neck portion with the tether secures the object to the ground surface.