SULFUR CONTAINING SILICA PARTICLE
A silica containing composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a compound having the following formula: (SiO2)x(OH)yMzSaFB: wherein M is at least one of the following metal or metalloid cations: boron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, cadmium, tin, platinum, gold, and bismuth; wherein S is a sulfur-based species selected from at least one of the following: sulfide salts, dithiocarbamates, polymer-based dithiocarbamates, and polysulfide salts;wherein F optionally exists and said F is at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane at a surface area coverage of about 0.01 to about 100 %; wherein the molar ratio of y/x is equal to about 0.01 to about 0.5, the molar ratio of x/z is equal to about 0.5 to about 300 or from about 0.5 to about 100, and the molar ratio of a/z is about 0.5 to about 5; and wherein B is a hygroscopic solid at a water to solid molar ratio of 0.1-6 and preferably comprises at least one alkaline earth oxide or lanthanide oxide.