Abstract: A method can be used for manufacturing one or more bodies made of a porous material derived from precursors of the porous material in a sol-gel process. The method involves filling precursors of the porous material into a mold defining the shape of the body, where the precursors include at least two reactive components and a solvent, and forming a gel body. The step is then repeated so as to form several gel bodies. The gel bodies are then removed from the mold after a predetermined time in which the gel bodies are formed from the precursors of the porous material. The gel bodies are arranged adjacent to one another, a spacer is provided between two adjacent gel bodies so as to provide a clearance therebetween, and the solvent is then removed from the gel bodies.

Abstract: A process for the hydrophobization of a porous silica based compound involves the steps of providing a composition (I) containing a porous silica based compound, treating the composition (I) with a composition (II) containing hexamethyldisiloxane or its hydrolyzed form, and removing the treated silica based compound. The porous silica based compound obtained by the process is useful. A porous silica based compound obtained or obtainable by the process can be used for medical and pharmaceutical applications, as adsorbents, for cosmetic applications, as an additive for food, as a catalyst support, for the preparation of sensors, or for thermal insulation.