Preparation and characterization of porous MgAl2O4 spinel ceramic supports from bauxite and magnesite

Porous magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) ceramic supports were fabricated by reactive sintering from low-cost bauxite and magnesite at different temperatures ranging from 1100 to 1400 °C and their sintering behavior and phase evolution were evaluated. The effects of sintering temperature on the pore structure, size and distribution as well as on the main properties of spinel ceramic supports such as flexural strength, nitrogen permeation flux and chemical resistance were investigated. The supports prepared at 1300 °C showed a homogeneous pore structure with the average pore size of 4.42 μm, and exhibited high flexural strength (35.6 MPa), high gas permeability (with nitrogen gas flux of 3057 m3 m−2 h−1 under a trans-membrane pressure of 0.1 MPa) and excellent chemical resistance.