Effect of Phosphate Ions on the Surface Chemistry and Microstructure of Amorphous Alumina.

High-surface-area amorphous Al2O3–AlPO4 samples (P/Al ratio: 0–0.17) have been prepared by reductive decomposition of aluminium nitrate in the presence of phosphoric acid. The materials obtained are amorphous up to 1100–1200 K and present “zeolitic-type” monomodal microporosity (r= 10–15 A). They are weakly acidic. The Lewis acidity changes from being weak (associated with octahedrally coordinated Al3+ ions) to being strong by increasing P content due to the formation of tetrahedral Al3+ ions induced by phosphate species. Bronsted sites are also present; these are associated with phosphate species. The catalytic activity in methanol dehydration increases with P content up to P/Al = 10/90. P inhibits both the crystallization of the γ-alumina phase and the γ- to α-alumina phase transition.