Abstract: Provided herein are compositions with enhanced sweetness or reduced caloric content per weight when compared to the sweetener carbohydrate or sweetener polyol component thereof, and methods for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to food supplements comprising silica a quaternary ammonium compound or a group Ia hydroxide and an organic acid, and to those comprising a group Ia silicon salt and an organic acid, to methods of making such supplements and to foods containing them.

Abstract: A method for producing and using an ultrapure colloidal silica dispersion is disclosed. The ultrapure colloidal silica dispersion has less than 200 ppb of each trace metal impurity disposed therein, excluding potassium and sodium, and less than 2 ppm residual alcohol. The method comprises dissolving a fumed silica in an aqueous solvent comprising an alkali metal hydroxide to produce an alkaline silicate solution, removing the alkali metal via ion exchange to generate a silicic acid solution, adjusting temperature, concentration and pH of said silicic acid solution to values sufficient to initiate nucleation and particle growth, and cooling the silicic acid solution at a rate sufficient to produce the colloidal silica dispersion.

Abstract: A process of preparing a silica sol is described. The process involves reacting a fresh sol with guanidine carbonate. The reaction may be conducted in the presence of a base (e. g. , sodium water glass), and at a pH of from 8 to 12. The process of the present invention may also include concentrating steps. The silica sol prepared by the method of the present invention has a BET surface area of greater than or equal to 100 m2/g, and contains from 0.05 to 15% by weight of gaunidinium ions, based on the total weight of the silica gel.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous silica-based sol is disclosed wherein a cationic ion exchange resin having part of its ion exchange capacity in hydrogen form is contacted with an aqueous alkali metal silicate to form a slurry having a pH from 5.0 to 11.5 and/or having particle aggregation or microgel formation corresponding to a S value up to 45%; adjusting the pH using a material comprising an aluminum compound; and separating the resin from the slurry. Silica-based sols having an S value from 15 to 25%, mole ratio Si:Al from 20:1 to 50:1, mole ratio Si:X, where X=alkali metal, from 5:1 to 17:1, SiO2 content of at least 5% by weight and containing silica-based particles having a specific surface area of at least 300 m2/g, as well as the use of such silica-based sols in producing paper are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides dispersoids having metal-oxygen groups which are suitable for the production of metal oxide thin-films at a low temperature of 200° C. or below and for the production of homogeneous organic-inorganic hybrid materials. The invention also provides metal oxide thin-films and organic-inorganic hybrid materials endowed with various capabilities, particularly organic-inorganic hybrid materials having a high refractive index and high transparency. Use is made of a dispersoid having metal-oxygen bonds which is obtained by mixing a metal compound having at least three hydrolyzable groups with at least 0.5 mole but less than 2 moles of water per mole of the metal compound in an organic solvent, in the absence of an acid, a base and/or a dispersion stabilizer, and at a temperature at or below the temperature at which the metal compound begins to hydrolyze, then raising the temperature to at least the temperature at which hydrolysis begins.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous silica-based sol is disclosed wherein a cationic ion exchange resin having part of its ion exchange capacity in hydrogen form is contacted with an aqueous alkali metal silicate to form a slurry having a pH from 5.0 to 11.5 and/or having particle aggregation or microgel formation corresponding to a S value up to 45%; adjusting the pH using a material comprising an aluminum compound; and separating the resin from the slurry. Silica-based sols having an S value from 15 to 25%, mole ratio Si:Al from 20:1 to 50:1, mole ratio Si:X, where X=alkali metal, from 5:1 to 17:1, SiO2 content of at least 5% by weight and containing silica-based particles having a specific surface area of at least 300 m2/g, as well as the use of such silica-based sols in producing paper are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing aqueous silica-based sols which comprises providing a cationic ion exchange resin having at least part of its ion exchange capacity in hydrogen form; bringing said ion exchange resin in contact with an aqueous alkali metal silicate to form an aqueous slurry; adjusting the pH of the aqueous slurry and separating the ion exchange resin from the aqueous slurry, as well as the silica-based sols obtained by the process; the invention also relates to silica-based sols obtained by the process, as well as a process for producing paper which comprises providing an aqueous suspension comprising cellulosic fibres; adding to the suspension one or more drainage and retention aids comprising a silica-based sol according to the invention; and dewatering the obtained suspension to provide a sheet or web of paper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing aqueous silica-based sols which comprises providing a cationic ion exchange resin having at least part of its ion exchange capacity in hydrogen form; bringing said ion exchange resin in contact with an aqueous alkali metal silicate to form an aqueous slurry; adjusting the pH of the aqueous slurry and separating the ion exchange resin from the aqueous slurry, as well as the silica-based sols obtained by the process. The invention also relates to silica-based sols obtained by the process, as well as a process for producing paper which comprises providing an aqueous suspension comprising cellulosic fibres; adding to the suspension one or more drainage and retention aids comprising a silica-based sol according to the invention; and dewatering the obtained suspension to provide a sheet or web of paper.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous silica-based soils disclosed wherein a cationic ion exchange resin having part of its ion exchange capacity in hydrogen form is contacted with an aqueous alkali metal silicate to form a slurry having a pH from 5.0 to 11.5 and/or having particle aggregation or microgel formation corresponding to a S value up to 45%; adjusting the pH using a material comprising an aluminum compound; and separating the resin from the slurry. Silica-based sols having an S value from 15 to 25%, mole ratio Si:Al from 20:1 to 50:1, mole ratio Si:X, where X=alkali metal, from 5:1 to 17:1, SiO2 content of at least 5% by weight and containing silica-based particles having a specific surface area of at least 300 m2/g, as well as the use of such silica-based sols in producing paper are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for generating an inorganic polymer electret in a colloidal state, the inorganic electret in a colloidal state itself, and applications for the inorganic electret in a colloidal state. The invention includes a method for generation of a colloidal silica particle which is dipolar in that it is positively charged in the nucleus and negatively charged on the outer surface leaving a net negative charge to the particle. The apparatus includes the ability to control particle size, uniformity, consistency, hydration, and three dimensional structure which is desirable for various applications.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing uniform size silica particles by the steps of providing preformed colloidal silica particles having a surface area, adding an alkali metal silicate and a cation exchange resin to produce a quantity of feed silica at a feed rate which is less than a nucleation rate, and increasing the feed rate as the feed silica is added wherein the feed rate is less than the nucleation rate.

Abstract: Pickering emulsions, which are finely disperse systems of the water-in-oil or oil-in-water type, comprising (1) an oil phase, (2) a water phase, (3) at least one type of microfine particles which a) have an average particle size of less than 200 nm, which b) display both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties, i.e. which have amphiphilic character, and are dispersible both in water and in oil and which c) have optionally been coated on the surface, (4) at least one film former and (5) at most 0.5% by weight of one or more emulsifiers.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing high purity colloidal silica by the steps of providing a quantity of potassium silicate; subjecting the quantity of potassium silicate to an ion exchange process to remove a first portion of potassium therefrom to produce a quantity of colloidal silica; and subjecting the quantity of colloidal silica to ultrafiltration to remove a portion of sodium therefrom, producing a quantity of high purity colloidal silica. High purity potassium hydroxide may also be prepared by regenerating the ion exchange resin with an acid to produce a quantity of potassium salt, which may be further purified by evaporation, crystallization, then further processed by electrodialysis and/or electrolysis.

Abstract: Pickering emulsions, which are finely disperse systems of the water-in-oil or oil-in-water type, comprising (1) an oil phase, (2) a water phase, (3) at least one type of microfine particles which a) have an average particle size of less than 200 nm, which b) display both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties, i.e. which have amphiphilic character, and are dispersible both in water and in oil and which c) have optionally been coated on the surface, (4) at least one film former and (5) at most 0.5% by weight of one or more emulsifiers.

Abstract: The present invention also provides a process for producing a colloidal dispersion of silica particle agglomerates having a specific surface area, as determined by nitrogen adsorption method, of 100 m2/g to 400 m2/g, an average secondary particle diameter of 20 nm to 300 nm and a pore volume of 0.5 ml/g to 2.0 ml/g, which comprises using a colloidal dispersion of silica particle agglomerates having a specific surface area, as determined by nitrogen adsorption method, of 300 m2/g to 1,000 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.4 ml/g to 2.0 ml/g as a seed dispersion, adding a feed solution comprising at least one of an aqueous active silicic acid solution and alkoxysilanes to the seed dispersion in small portions in the presence of an alkali to grow silica particle agglomerates.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous silica-based sol comprising a nitrogen-containing organic compound and silica-based particles with a specific surface area of at least 300 square meters per gram of silica. The invention further relates to a process for the production of an aqueous silica-based sol comprising a nitrogen-containing organic compound which comprises incorporating a nitrogen-containing organic compound into a silica-based sol containing silica-based particles with a specific surface area of at least 300 square meters per gram of silica. The invention also relates to the use of an aqueous silica-based sol comprising a nitrogen-containing organic compound and silica-based particles with a specific surface area of at least 300 square meters per gram of silica as a flocculating agent in the production of pulp and paper and in water purification.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of aqueous silica sols having a particle size of 27 to 72 nm. by adding fresh acidic silica sol into the reactors of a multi stage cascade reactor wherein the reactors contain aqueous solution of colloidal silica sol of a pH of 8 or above. Each successive stage of the cascade reactor is supplied with overflow from the preceding stage. Alkaline compounds, such as alkaline sodium silicate solution, alkaline potassium silicate solution, sodium hydroxide solution or potassium hydroxide solution, are introduced into the first reactor or first reactors so that a pH value in the range of 8 to 12.5 is established in the reactors.