Sol-gel synthesis of hybrid silicas was carried out by the deposition of silicic acid on nematic liquid-crystalline cellulose templates, which are partially ordered suspensions of rod-like cellulose nanocrystals with a size of ≈ 5 to 30 nm in diameter and from 100 to 300 nm in length. Porous silicas of Type SBA-16 were obtained by stepwise heat treatment of hybrid xerogels. The formation of silica-cellulose hybrid materials and mesoporous silica products under concentrations of sulfuric acid of 30, 45, 60, 70 wt%, temperatures of 20 – 45оС, and pH values of 6-10, were investigated using nitrogen sorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, FT IR- spectroscopy and X-ray examination. 002-332 002-335 002-336 002-339 Figure – Isotherms of low-temperature adsorption-desorption of nitrogen and PSD curves for fully mineralized mesoporous silica samples obtained on a cellulose template hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid for 2 h at different pH values and H2SO4 concentration: 002-332 – pH 6, 30%; 002-335 – pH 6, 70%; 002-336 – pH 8, 30%; 002-339 – pH 8, 70%. Table – Physical adsorption of nitrogen by fully mineralized silica samples Sample pH Time, h [H2SO4] ABEТ, m2/g Aext, m2 г Vsp des, cm3/g VBJH des, сm3/g Ddes, nm DBJH des, nm 002-332 6 2 30 377 420 0,31 0,30 3,3 3,4 002-335 6 2 70 484 550 0,35 0,30 2,9 3,2 002-336 8 2 30 377 414 0,39 0,43 4,1 3,9 002-339 8 2 70 529 584 0,49 0,55 3,7 3,7 It was shown that the combination of silica and cellulose imparts new textural, structural and surface properties to the hybrid material. The creation of an ordered mesostructure of cellulose nanorods and SiO2 framework facilitates template mineralization and increases the thermal stability of the material. Cellulose and silica hybrids with ordered mesopores, narrow pore distribution (5-6 nm) and additional active centers in the form of carbonyl, carboxyl or hydroxyl groups can be used in water purification as adsorbents of metals or larger molecules. The proposed method is variable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.