CTAB-directed synthesis of mesoporous γ-alumina promoted by hydroxy polyacids

A new strategy was introduced to synthesize mesoporous γ-Al2O3 by double hydrolysis method using hydroxyl polyacids and CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) as co-templates. The intermediate aluminum hydroxides were characterized by IR, XRD and TG. A formation mechanism of the meso-structure is suggested, where hydroxyl polyacids interact with aluminum species and CTAB simultaneously and bridge the interaction between aluminum and CTAB micelle in favor of the genesis of ordered meso-structure. Characterizations by XRD and N2 sorption measurements showed that the resulted mesoporous alumina with γ-Al2O3 phase possessed high surface area (398 m2 g−1), large pore volume (0.59 cm3 g−1) and exhibited good catalytic activity for cyclohexene epoxidation.