In a paper published in 1931, Polyakov reported the effects of presence of different solvents (benzene, toluene and xylene) on the silica pore structure during drying a newly prepared silica. When H2SO4 was used as the polymerization initiator (acidifying agent), a positive correlation was found between surface areas, e.g. load capacities, and the molecular weights of the respective solvents.
In 1931, Polyakov's study explored the influence of various solvents (benzene, toluene, and xylene) on silica pore structure during drying. The use of sulfuric acid as a polymerization initiator led to a positive correlation between surface area, such as load capacity, and the molecular weight of the solvents used.