Synthesis of hierarchical AlPO-n molecular sieves templated by saccharides

A facile method for the synthesis of hierarchical AlPO-n molecular sieves (AlPO-nH) templated by saccharides was reported. Saccharides including soluble starch, sucrose, cellulose, and glucose as templates were investigated. Among these saccharides, glucose was the best template to create mesopores. Using pseudoboehmite treated by KOH as Al source for AlPO-nH, the amount of mesopores was greatly increased. The synthesized AlPO-nH samples were characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, FTIR, TG, SEM and TEM. It was confirmed that the incorporation of glucose in the crystals of AlPO-nH was through the interactions of glucoses with the surface negative charges. After crystallization, the glucose embedded in the crystals was removed by combustion, and then the hierarchical AlPO-n molecular sieves were obtained.

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► Hierarchical AlPO-n molecular sieves (AlPO-nH), including AlPO-5 and AlPO-11, were synthesized using glucose as template.
► The incorporation of glucose into AlPO-nH was through the interactions with the surface negative charges.
► This method can also be extended conveniently to synthesize other hierarchical molecular sieves such as AlPO-n, SAPO-n and MeAPO-n.