An example of integrative chemistry: Combined gelation of boehmite and sodium alginate for the formation of porous beads

We describe in the present report how the production of millimetric beads containing porous aluminum oxihydroxide (boehmite) can be obtained easily by taking advantage of the fast gelation process of sodium alginate by ion exchange. The combination of two gelation mechanisms led us to the preparation of objects that can be more easily manipulated than powder and still exhibit the porous properties of this latter, with similar surface area. This pathway can be extended to various systems and it constitutes an additional example of a recent concept called “integrative chemistry” [R. Backov, Soft Matter 2 (2006) 452–464].