Synthesis of mesoporous alumina by using a cost-effective template

Abstract

A salt of stearic acid, i.e., magnesium stearate [(C17H35COO)2Mg], can be used as a chemical template for the formation of mesoporous alumina, and is a less expensive reagent than stearic acid. Mesoporous alumina prepared using this cost-effective surfactant shows similar pore properties with respect to pore size (3.5 nm) and surface area (above 300 m2Vg) to that prepared using stearic acid. In addition, textural porosity, arising from non-crystalline intraaggregate voids and spaces, was effectively removed by the addition of magnesium nitrate. The entire transformation from aluminum hydroxide to active alumina was performed at 550 °C, and the crystallinity of the product was confirmed by powder XRD analysis.27A1 MAS NMR result shows the phase of mesoporous alumina is the γ-alumina form.