Formation of functional phosphosilicate gels from phytic acid and tetraethyl orthosilicate

Phosphosilicate gels with high phosphorus content (P mol% > Si mol%) have been prepared using phytic acid as the phosphorus precursor, with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). It is shown that the structure of phytic acid is maintained in both the sols and those gels dried at a low temperature (i.e. <= 120 degrees C). Solid state Si-29 and P-31 NMR suggest that the gel network is primarily based on tetrahedral silicon and that phosphorus is not chemically incorporated into the silicate network at this point. X-ray diffraction shows the gel to be amorphous at low temperatures. After heat treatment at higher temperatures (i.e. up to 450 degrees C), P-O-Si linkages are formed and the silicon coordination changes from tetrahedral to octahedral. At the same time, the gel crystallizes. Even after this partial calcination,P-31 NMR shows that a large fraction of phytic acid remains in the network. The function of phytic acid as chelating agent is also maintained in the gels dried at 120 degrees C such that its ability to absorb Ca2+ from aqueous solution is preserved.