A New Method for Nano Tube Imogolite Synthesis

Abstract

A new orthosilicate source from dissolution of poly(silicic acid) for imogolite synthesis has been investigated. We have shown that dialysis membrane method can be used to produce orthosilicic acid from dissolution of poly(silicic acid). The amounts of soluble silica in the solution increases with increasing time and temperature, however always reach constant in the concentration less than 3.6 mM. By diluting the concentration of soluble silica becomes less more 2 mM, this solution was used to imogolite synthesis. The imogolite product has high purity and larger diameter than natural imogolite. We suggest that most of the soluble silica solutions contain silicic acid dominant as monomeric form than low polymeric species during poly(silicic acid) dissolved. This new method seems to be applied to produce imogolite in a large scale by combination between batch and flow system in the industrial field.