Method for rapid production of large sol-gel SiO.sub.2 containing monoliths of silica with and without transition metals

摘要

A process for producing sol-gel monoliths containing SiO.sub.2 by mixing water, a SiO.sub.2 precursor and ketomalonic acid to form a sol, gelling the sol, aging the gelled sol and drying the aged gelled sol. Optional additional ingredients that may be added in the mixing step include salts of non-precipitating transition metals such as copper and/or additional precursors such as precursors for B.sub.2 O.sub.3, Na. sub.2 O, Li.sub.2 O, TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or mixtures thereof.