Synthesis of mesoporous Al2O3 with large surface area and large pore diameter by improved precipitation method

Abstract Mesoporous Al 2 O 3 was synthesized using aluminum sulfate as an inorganic precursor and ammonia water as the pH adjustor, adopting the strong chemical and mechanical effects of ultrasound, improving the washing method and adding surfactant in the precursor. The resulting materials were characterized by FT IR, XRD, N 2 physisorption, TEM and TG–DTA, which revealed the mesoporous Al 2 O 3 had large surface area (412 m 2 /g), pore volume (2.3 cm 3 /g), pore diameter (19.2 nm) and high thermal stability (up to 1000 °C). As the supports for NiMo-based sulfide catalysts in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of p-cresol, the good mesoporous structure of the Al 2 O 3 support resulted in the high dispersion of active species and the rapid diffusion of reactants and products in the pores, hence, improved the HDO activity of NiMoS/Al 2 O 3 catalysts. This synthesis method possesses a great potential for the preparation of support with large surface area and large pore diameter.