Apparatuses and methods for producing sol, gel and silica porous body

A gel producing apparatus that produces a gel for use in production of a silica porous body having macropores, the gel producing apparatus comprising a sol producing section and a gel producing section, wherein:

• the sol producing section comprises:
• a mixing section that prepares a mixed liquid comprising a silica precursor, a catalyst and a macropore forming agent;
• a first feeding section that feeds the silica precursor to the mixing section;
• a second feeding section that feeds the catalyst and the macropore forming agent in admixture with or separately from each other, to the mixing section;
• a discharging pipe that discharges the mixed liquid from the mixing section;
• and
• a cooling section that cools the mixed liquid flowing through the discharging pipe, to 35° C. or less;
• and
• the gel producing section comprises a heating section that heats a sol produced in the sol producing section, to a gelation temperature.

A silica porous body producing apparatus that produces a silica porous body having macropores, the silica porous body producing apparatus comprising a sol producing section, a gel producing section, and a silica porous body producing section, wherein:

• the sol producing section comprises:
• a mixing section that prepares a mixed liquid comprising a silica precursor, a catalyst and a macropore forming agent;
• a first feeding section that feeds the silica precursor to the mixing section;
• a second feeding section that feeds the catalyst and the macropore forming agent in admixture with or separately from each other, to the mixing section;
• a discharging pipe that discharges the mixed liquid from the mixing section;
• and
• a cooling section that cools the mixed liquid flowing through the discharging pipe, to 35° C. or less;
• the gel producing section comprises a heating section that heats a sol produced in the sol producing section, to a gelation temperature;
• and
• the silica porous body producing section comprises a firing section that fires a gel produced in the gel producing section.

A method for producing a sol for use in production of a silica porous body having macropores, the method comprising the following steps of:

• (1A) feeding a silica precursor to a mixing section;
• (1B) feeding a catalyst and a macropore forming agent in admixture with or separately from each other, to the mixing section;
• (1C) preparing a mixed liquid comprising the silica precursor, the catalyst and the macropore forming agent, in the mixing section;
• and
• (1D) cooling the mixed liquid flowing through a discharging pipe connected to the mixing section, to 35° C. or less, with the mixed liquid being discharged from the mixing section through the discharging pipe.