2.3.

2 How different reaction parameters affects the particle size

Andersson et al. (2006) reported that the mesoporous silica particle size
distribution is determined by the droplet size distribution of the
emulsion. The emulsion droplets are affected by several critical
parameters, such as shear forces e.g. stirring rate, temperature,
composition in terms of both continuous phase and emulsifier and the
viscosities of both the continuous phase and the dispersed phase (7).
Kosuge et al. (2004) have synthesized spherical mesoporous silica
particles and noticed that the particle size distribution became narrower
with decreasing particle size and that the stirring rate affected the
particle size distribution, which Huo et al. also confirmed (34, 35).
Kosuge claimed that monodisperse spheres were obtained in the range
of 500-700 rpm and Huo noticed that low stirring speed (<200 rpm),
medium stirring speed (200-400 rpm) and high stirring speed (>450rpm)
resulted in what was defined respectively as soft gel particles, spheres
and fine powders. In an article, Nooney et al. reported how the particles
size could be controlled over a range of diameters only by varying the

initial silicate/emulsifier concentration. They observed that the particle

size increased with increasing concentration of silicate and emulsifier
(36).
4.1.1 The effect of stirring rate
The effect of stirring rate was investigated by varying the stirring rate
during the emulsification step. The stirring rate in the reference system
was 450 rpm. The green and the blue curve represent in figure 4.4 the
synthesis where the stirring rate was increased to 550 rpm and
decreased to 350 rpm respectively.