Mesoporous alumina prepared from waste aluminum cans and used as catalytic support for toluene oxidation

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 70; pp. 125 - 127
• Main Authors: Chotisuwan, S., Sirirak, A., Har-Wae, P., Wittayakun, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Alumina hydrate; Aluminum; Aluminum cans; aluminum hydroxide; Aluminum isopropoxide; Aluminum oxide; Calcines; Cans; oxidation; Sol–gel; Structural; Surface area; temperature; Toluene; Wastes; Sol–gel; Aluminum cans; Aluminum isopropoxide; Structural
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2011.11.077

Mesoporous aluminas with high specific surface area were synthesized successfully via a template-free sol–gel method from aluminum isopropoxide (AIP) and aluminum hydroxide produced from waste aluminum cans. After calcinations at 500°C, the synthesized mesoporous aluminas were in gamma phase. The BET surface areas of the mesoporous aluminas obtained from synthesized AIP (427–556m2·g−1) were higher than that prepared from aluminum hydroxide (421m2·g−1). The synthesized alumina products have worm-like pores without long-range ordered framework. Liquid phase oxidation of toluene catalyzed by NiO supported on these mesoporous alumina has been carried out at room temperature. ► Waste aluminum cans were used for mesoporous alumina synthesis via sol–gel method. ► The aluminas were synthesized from aluminum alkoxide and hydroxide from Al cans. ► The BET surface areas of the aluminas were 421–556m2·g−1 with worm-like pores.