Abstract
Huge progress has been achieved in the synthesis, modification, characterization, and applications of mesoporous silica. Even though, it has not been commercialized for many practical applications. This is mainly related to the fact that mesoporous silica is strongly inhibited by this poor aqueous stability. Different mesoporous silica materials such as MCFs, MCM-41, and SBA-15 were prepared and subjected to different water treatments. The structural properties such as surface area, pore size, and pore volume were tested after each treatment to investigate the structural stability of each sample after each treatment. In many instances, the apparent lack of stability was associated with the drying process, rather than the treatment itself. Acetone washing before drying helped in maintaining the structural properties of the materials. Moreover, it was clear that increasing the pore sizes of the mesoporous materials increased its stability.