Synthesis and characterization of steam-stable AlMCM-41

Steam-stable and hexagonally ordered mesoporous aluminosilicate (MCM-41(h)) has been prepared via neutral-cationic route using butylamine and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as co-templating agents. The mesostructure of the synthesized material could retain its integrity after exposure to 20% (v/v) water vapor in Ar at 1073 K for 4 h. It was believed that the steam stability might be related to the thicker framework walls, the higher condensation of surface silanol groups and the presence of some arrangements of zeolite five-ring subunits in the framework walls. In catalytic cracking of 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene, the MCM-41(h) showed relatively stable activity under equivalent steaming conditions in comparison with the conventional AlMCM-41 material.