Materiale og fremgangsmåde til fremstilling af materialer med høj porøsitet og høj styrke

Described is a method for preparing a catalyst support material, comprising commercially available silica, by utilizing a fluorine-containing acid. The novel method is utilized to produce a novel composition that has unique physical properties different from those of typical commercially available silica materials. The novel support material has significantly improved values for crush strength and as good or better pore volume than comparable catalyst support materials. Due to these improved physical properties, the novel composition is more durable and longer lived. Furthermore, the greater pore volume of the novel composition provides for enhanced catalytic activity when the formed silica material is utilized as a catalyst support.