Influence of the type of sepiolite on the modification of the pore-size distribution in γ-Al2O3 supports

γ-Al2O3 modified supports with bimodal pore-size distributions were prepared by the addition of different types of natural sepiolites (α or β) into alumina. The supports were characterized by nitrogen physisorption, mercury porosimetry, X-ray diffraction, HRTEM and DTA techniques. A wide range of SBET (94–238 m2 g− 1), pore volumes (0.3–0.82 cm3 g− 1), and pore sizes were obtained in the supports depending on the type of sepiolite and its concentration added into alumina. The pore sizes were distributed as follows: mesopores around 1.8 nm in radius, mesopores in the radius range 3.0–25 nm and macropores between 25 and 300 nm in radius. The shape of the pore-size distributions depended on the type of sepiolite: the modal peak for pores larger than 3.0 nm was broad with β-type sepiolites and narrow with α-type sepiolites. The mesopore and macropore sizes can be controlled by the type of sepiolite as well as its concentration added to alumina.