A silica membrane filter 10 includes an ultrafiltration membrane 15, which is disposed on a support body 14 and which contains an element 14 as a primary component, and a silica membrane 18 which is disposed on the ultrafiltration membrane 15 and which has an aryl group. The ultrafiltration membrane 15 has a structure infiltrated by Si of the silica membrane 18, the atomic ratio A (=Si/M) of Si to the element M in a membrane-side region 16, which is a region corresponding to 25% of the ultrafiltration membrane 15 from the silica membrane 18, satisfies 0.01≤A≤0.5, and the ratio A/B of the atomic ratio A to the atomic ratio B (=Si/M) in a base-material-side region 17, which is a region corresponding to 25% from the support body 14, is within the range of 1.1 or more.

Disclosed is a complex including at least one lactoferrin and at least one silica having a specific surface area included between 100 m2/g and 1000 m2/g (BET area, measured according to standard ISO 9277-2010), the complex being obtainable by adding the lactoferrin to the silica in the form of a sol-gel with an aqueous solvent, and subsequent drying of the sol-gel. The complex is particularly suitable for use in oral care products, in particular toothpastes, mouthwashes, gels, chewing gum, tablets for use in oral care, gingival dyes, and the like. The complex features a high level of stability and bio-availability, such that it has an effective, long-lasting antibacterial and antioxidant action within the oral cavity. The complex is particularly suitable for the prevention or treatment of diseases of dental apparatus, in particular for the prevention or treatment of periodontitis or peri-implantitis, preferably in patients suffering from diabetes.

Disclosed is a complex including at least one lactoferrin and at least one silica having a specific surface area included between 100 m2/g and 1000 m2/g (BET area, measured according to standard ISO 9277-2010), the complex being obtainable by adding the lactoferrin to the silica in the form of a sol-gel with an aqueous solvent, and subsequent drying of the sol-gel. The complex is particularly suitable for use in oral care products, in particular toothpastes, mouthwashes, gels, chewing gum, tablets for use in oral care, gingival dyes, and the like. The complex features a high level of stability and bio-availability, such that it has an effective, long-lasting antibacterial and antioxidant action within the oral cavity. The complex is particularly suitable for the prevention or treatment of diseases of dental apparatus, in particular for the prevention or treatment of periodontitis or peri-implantitis, preferably in patients suffering from diabetes.

There is provided a method for obtaining a purified aqueous solution of silicic acid containing less metal impurities such as Cu and Ni using water glass as a raw material with less number of purification steps than that in conventional methods without using any unnecessary additives. The method for producing a purified aqueous solution of silicic acid, the method comprising the steps of: (a) passing an aqueous solution of alkaline silicate having a silica concentration of 0.5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less through a column filled with a polyamine-, iminodiacetic acid-, or aminophosphoric acid-type chelating resin, and (b) passing the aqueous solution passed in the step (a) through a column filled with a hydrogen-type cation exchange resin.

There is provided a method for obtaining a purified aqueous solution of silicic acid containing less metal impurities such as Cu and Ni using water glass as a raw material with less number of purification steps than that in conventional methods without using any unnecessary additives. The method for producing a purified aqueous solution of silicic acid, the method comprising the steps of: (a) passing an aqueous solution of alkaline silicate having a silica concentration of 0.5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less through a column filled with a polyamine-, iminodiacetic acid-, or aminophosphoric acid-type chelating resin, and (b) passing the aqueous solution passed in the step (a) through a column filled with a hydrogen-type cation exchange resin.

A material or biomaterial comprising silicic acid condensates having a low degree of cross-linking, and methods for its production are subject-matter of the invention. A method for the production of silicic acid structures having a low degree of cross-linking is disclosed, wherein a sol is produced, wherein further condensation is prevented when specific cross-linking of the silicic acid is reached, wherein, preferably, structures having a size of 0.5-1000 nm are produced, e.g. polyhedral structures or aggregates of the same. Further condensation can be prevented by means of mixing with a polymer. In one embodiment, this comprises nano-structured, silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) having a low degree of cross-linking that is embedded in a polymer matrix. The material can be used in medicine for therapeutic purposes, and can enter into direct contact with biological tissue of the body in this connection. This material herein enters into chemical, physical, and biological interactions with the corresponding biological systems. It can herein be decomposed, and can act as a supplier for the silicic acid required for metabolism. Furthermore, it can have a supportive or shielding effect. It can be present as a granulate, microparticles, fiber, and as a woven or nonwoven fabric produced therefrom, or as a layer on implants or wound dressings. The material can be used as a medical device or as a nutritional supplement.

A method for manufacturing a silica sol according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a step of preparing a silica sol reaction liquid by hydrolyzing and polycondensing an alkoxysilane or a condensate thereof using an alkali catalyst in a solvent; and at least one of a step of concentrating the silica sol reaction liquid by an ultrasonic atomization separation method and a step of replacing the silica sol reaction liquid with water by the ultrasonic atomization separation method.

A method for manufacturing a silica sol according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a step of preparing a silica sol reaction liquid by hydrolyzing and polycondensing an alkoxysilane or a condensate thereof using an alkali catalyst in a solvent; and at least one of a step of concentrating the silica sol reaction liquid by an ultrasonic atomization separation method and a step of replacing the silica sol reaction liquid with water by the ultrasonic atomization separation method.

A method for producing an active silicic acid solution in which the existing amount of foreign matters as plate-like fine particles is reduced and a method for producing a silica sol in which such foreign matters are reduced. The method fulfills the following condition; the existing amount of plate-like fine particles having a length of one side of 0.2 to 4.0 m and a thickness of 1 to 100 nm is measured to be 0% to 30% in accordance with measuring method A, the method including the steps of: preparing an active silicic acid solution by subjecting an alkali silicate aqueous solution having a silica concentration of 0.5% by mass to 10.0% by mass to cation-exchange to remove alkaline components; and filtering the active silicic acid solution through a filter whose removal rate of particles having a primary particle size of 1.0 m is 50% or more.

The present invention is to provide a toner for developing electrostatic images, which has an excellent balance between low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant shelf stability, which has good toner conveyance amount stability and printing durability, and which has less occurrence of fog in a high temperature and high humidity environment. Disclosed is a toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising colored resin particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein the toner comprises, as the external additive, fine silica particles in an amount of 0.5 to 3.0 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the colored resin particles, the fine silica particles having a hydrophobicity of 15 to 49% that is determined after a high-temperature and high-humidity incubation.