A sol-gel method using acetic anhydride in the presence of cholesterol in organic solution media: preparation of silicas that recognize steroid hormones.

Silicas were prepared by a sol-gel method from tetraethoxysilane and acetic anhydride in the presence of cholesterol in organic solution media. Some silicas had higher pore volumes than silicas obtained in the absence of cholesterol. The adsorption abilities by these silicas were compared using various compounds in benzene solution.