Synthesis of large pore-size and large pore-volume aluminas by glycothermal treatment of aluminium alkoxide and subsequent calcination

Abstract

Aluminas were prepared by calcination of the products obtained by glycothermal treatment of aluminium alkoxides, and their pore structures investigated by means of the nitrogen adsorption technique and mercury porosimetry. The product had a honeycomb-like texture which developed well with increasing crystallite size of the product. The crystallite size of the product was in turn controlled by the glycol used, and increased in the following order (carbon number of glycol): 2 < 3 < 6 ≪ 4. The honeycomb-like texture was preserved even after calcination. Because of the well-developed honeycomb-like texture, the alumina derived from the product obtained by the treatment of aluminium isopropoxide in 1,4-butanediol had quite large pore diameters (70 and 700 nm) and a large pore volume (2.4cm³g⁻¹) with a sufficient surface area (184 m²g⁻¹).