Preparation of high pore volume γ-Al2O3 nanorods via “gibbsite-AACH” precursor route in a membrane dispersion microreactor

Abstract

In this work, several mesoporous γ-Al2O3 nanorods with high pore volume and narrow pore size distribution were controllable prepared via “gibbsite-AACH (ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide)” precursor route in a membrane dispersion microreactor. The effects of reaction temperature, (NH4)2CO3 concentration and calcination temperature on the samples were intensively studied. The highly uniformed morphology was assured due to the high mixing intensify in the membrane dispersion microreactor and the successful conversion of the precursor in the slurry. Under optimal conditions, these as-prepared γ-Al2O3 nanorods behaved high pore volume of 1.65 mL/g and narrow pore size distribution of 3–20 nm with a length and width of 150–200 nm and 30–60 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the adsorption experiment of the prepared samples were carried out under natural pH value, and the as-prepared sample of AACH-500 exhibited favorable adsorption performance for Congo red (CR) solution. The maximal adsorption capacity was up to 2006.7 mg/g, thus indicating that the as-prepared mesoporous γ-Al2O3 nanorods are in adsorption and other application potential of the field.