Influence of aluminium precursor on physico-chemical properties of aluminium hydroxides and oxides

Abstract

An attempt to obtain aluminium hydroxide that could give aluminium oxides of increased thermal stability was made. Aluminium hydroxide was precipitated during a hydrolysis of aluminium chloride in ammonia medium. The influence of preparative conditions, such as a dosing rate of aluminium precursor, pH, duration of the precipitate refluxing and temperature of calcination, on the properties of obtained hydroxides and oxides was investigated. The materials were studied with the following methods: thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and adsorption–desorption of benzene vapours. Precipitated boehmites had high values of S BET determined from nitrogen adsorption (220–300 m2g–1), good sorption capacity for benzene vapours, developed mesoporous structure and hydrophilic character. It has been proved that a high pH value during the precipitation of aluminium hydroxide favoured better crystallisation of boehmite structure, higher temperature of its dehydroxylation into γ-Al2O3, and delayed transformation of γ phase into α-Al2O3. Aluminium oxides derived from the hydroxides precipitated at a high pH were the most stable at high temperatures, and were characterised with the best surface properties.