Dear James Kilgore, the question is a bit not clear enough. Please check the following documents. My Regards

https://ijpsr.com/bft-article/silica-gel-a-keystone-in-chromatographic-techniques/?view=fulltext

https://doi.org/10.1021/ed071p599

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228488334_Producing_of_Monolithic_Layers_of_Silica_for_Thin-Layer_Chromatography_by_Sol-Gel_Synthesis

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328151169_Preparation_of_analytical_columns_and_HPLC_silica-based_C_18_packing_material_synthesis_from_non-toxic_silica_source

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/982029

James Kilgore

The process of obtaining silica gel consists of the following stages 1) obtaining a sol of silicic acid

2) the transition of a sol to a hydrogel by heating

3) aging and syneresis of the hydrogel

4) washing the hydrogel from salts

5) drying the hydrogel, as a result of which it turns into a xerogel (silica gel) for

chromatography.

I guess the necessary buzzword is "monolith" - can a porous but physically-robust (xerogel?) framework be produced which can be used for chromatography? I have read about monolithic beds for micro-column HPLC (Merck has some patents.) Am wondering if a similar approach can allow the gel structure to serve the function that binders (e.g. CaSO4.2H2O & occasionally polyvinyl alcohol or cornstarch) perform to stabilize silica powders for planar chromatography.

James Kilgore

For porous adsorbents, which include silica gel, the main criterion is the specific surface area of the pores. If you use additives to reduce the pores and increase the specific surface area, then you will improve the adsorption properties of silica gel for chromatography. For porous adsorbents, the pores should be nanosized, and not the size of the silica gel itself. You probably mean "monolith" opposing it to nanoparticles.