Method of preparing silicate composition

Claim 1

A method of preparing a silica-containing composition comprising the steps of: (a) forming a shaped particle of a lithium silicate sol; (b) heating the particle to a temperature of about 70° C. or more in the absence of a gelling agent to form a gel while maintaining the shape thereof; and, (c) subjecting the shaped particle to a washing step prior to cooling of said gel to a temperature of less than 70° C. to remove lithium therefrom and thereby prevent reversion of said gel to said sol.

Claim 2

A method of preparing a silica-containing composition comprising the steps of: (a) forming a shaped particle of a lithium silicate sol; (b) heating the particle to a temperature of about 70° C. or more in the absence of a gelling agent to form a gel while maintaining the shape thereof; and, (c) subjecting the shaped particle to a washing step prior to cooling of said gel to a temperature of less than 70° C. to remove lithium therefrom and thereby prevent reversion of said gel to said sol.

Claim 17

A method of preparing a spheroidal silica-containing composition comprising the steps of: (a) forming spheroidal particles of lithium silicate sol; (b) raising the temperature of the spheroidal particles to at least about 70° C. by dispersing them into hot oil in the absence of a gelling agent to form a gel; and, (c) subjecting the spheroidal particles to a washing step prior to cooling of said gel to a temperature of less than 70° C. to remove lithium therefrom and thereby prevent reversion of said gel to said sol.

Claim 18

A method of preparing a spheroidal silica-containing composition comprising the steps of: (a) forming spheroidal particles of lithium silicate sol; (b) raising the temperature of the spheroidal particles to at least about 70° C. by dispersing them into hot oil in the absence of a gelling agent to form a gel; and, (c) subjecting the spheroidal particles to a washing step prior to cooling of said gel to a temperature of less than 70° C. to remove lithium therefrom and thereby prevent reversion of said gel to said sol.

Claim 29

A method or preparing a spheroidal silica-containing composition comprising the steps of: (a) preheating lithium silicate sol to a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 50° C.; (b) forming spheroidal particles of the preheated lithium silicate sol; (c) raising the temperature of the spheroidal particles to a temperature of at least 70° C. by dispersing them into hot oil in the absence of a gelling agent to form a gel; (d) subjecting the spheroidal particles to an aging step; (e) subjecting the spheroidal particles to a washing step prior to cooling of said gel to a temperature of less than 70° C. to remove lithium therefrom and thereby prevent reversion of said gel to said sol; (f) subjecting the washed spheroidal particles to a drying step; and, (g) calcining the dried spheroidal particles.

Claim 30

A method or preparing a spheroidal silica-containing composition comprising the steps of: (a) preheating lithium silicate sol to a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 50° C.; (b) forming spheroidal particles of the preheated lithium silicate sol; (c) raising the temperature of the spheroidal particles to a temperature of at least 70° C. by dispersing them into hot oil in the absence of a gelling agent to form a gel; (d) subjecting the spheroidal particles to an aging step; (e) subjecting the spheroidal particles to a washing step prior to cooling of said gel to a temperature of less than 70° C. to remove lithium therefrom and thereby prevent reversion of said gel to said sol; (f) subjecting the washed spheroidal particles to a drying step; and, (g) calcining the dried spheroidal particles.