Abstract

Nanoporous silica has been successfully synthesized using hide powder as a template. The nanoporous silica possessed micropores and/or mesopores and a large specific surface area of over 900m2 g-1. It was found from the results of N2 adsorption – desorption isotherm measurements that the pH value of the synthesis mixtures mainly affected the pore structure and the surface area of nanoporous silica. Moreover, from the results of SEM observations, this nanoporous silica, regardless of the synthesis conditions, was composed of fibrous silica, which resembled the collagen fibril structure. These results showed the possibility of novel effective use of leather wastes for the synthesis of functional materials.