Particle Growth vs. Nucleation

This seems obvious now, but consider the brave researcher who decided to heat a solution and speed up 

DEIONIZED SILICATE SPONTANEOUSLY CONDENSES TO 1-2 nm PARTICLES, (=10-100 SILICA UNITS) 

Process Stream = Sol + Dilute Silicate Circulated at high flow through the area bounded by two membranes. 

FIGURE 12.9 Electrodialysis route to colloidal silica described by R.K. Her — U.S. Patent 3,668,088. 

AT HIGH SILICATE CONCENTRATIONS AND LOWER TEMPERATURES, THE FORMATION OF CONTINUOUS GELS IS MORE LIKELY. 

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