High velocity, low pressure process for making silica gels and microgels

2 2 This invention relates to a process for converting silica to polysilicate gels or hydrogels by combining an aqueous silica source with a COfeed stream as the gel initiator, whereby the reaction stream is propelled at high velocity and turbulence maintaining the COuptake rate in the reaction stream. The invention also relates to a process for converting silica to polysilicate by pre-carbonating water at pressures of equal to or greater than 100 psig before initiating the polysilicate reaction.