In situ calcinations of precursors of mesoporous AlPO4 and application of mesoporous Mn–AlPO4

The effects of thermal treatment on as-synthesized AlPO4 were investigated. The in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TGA–DTA), in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 27Al, 31P MAS-NMR were utilized to characterize physical properties of synthesized AlPO4, including phase, crystalline, structure, and morphology. Results showed that Mn substituted a portion of Al in the frameworks of mesoporous AlPO4. When being applied to tert-butylation of m-cresol with tert-butyl alcohol, Mn–AlPO4 achieved a tert-butyl alcohol conversion of 20.2 wt% after being circulated for 5 times.