Monodispersed silica colloidal spherical nanoparticles were synthesized from the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) by using a continuous microwave synthesis process. The flow rate was varied from 43 to 101 mL/min in order to establish the optimum conditions required to obtain unagglomerated silica nanopowders. The results were compared with those obtained in batch systems. In particular the mean particle diameter became smaller than 50 nm as the residence time was decreased by increasing the flow rate to 101 mL/min. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.