Mesoporous MgO synthesized by a homogeneous-hydrothermal method and its catalytic performance on gas-phase acetone condensation at low temperatures

• Mesoporous MgO was prepared by a homogeneous-hydrothermal method.
• The mesoporous MgO possesses high specific area and rich basic sites.
• The conversion of acetone to isophorone was realized at low temperatures.

Mesoporous MgO micro-particles (20–80 μm) with crystalline phase framework wall were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal homogeneous precipitation route using urea as precipitating reagent. It possesses high specific area (278 m2/g), pseudo parallel pore and wall arrangement and large amount of basic sites and exhibits excellent catalytic activity for acetone condensation to mesityl oxide and isophorone even at low temperatures (< 200 °C).

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