particulate ceramic precursor gel compositions are formed by mechanically extruding a substantially monolithic , substantially undried ceramic precursor . gel through a screen using a mechanical force which is supplied substantially normal to the plane of the screen to directly form the particulate composition , collecting the extrudate in a substantially non - stacked configuration , and drying the extrudate , e . g ., in a dryer without imposition of strong vacuum when the extrudate is in substantially nonlayered configuration , to substantially maintain its particle morphology .