Sol-gel synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of gamma-alumina with bimodal mesopore distribution

In this study, boehmite sols were used for preparation of mesoporous gamma-alumina with bimodal mesopore distribution. Superfine nanospheres of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) prepared by water based emulsion polymerization method were used as a template. Nitrogen sorption revealed that aluminas prepared using this approach demonstrated bimodal mesopore size distribution with maxima at 3.8 and 25.7 nm, respectively. Catalytic tests showed that bimodal mesopore distribution within gamma-Al2O3 prepared with PMMA nanospheres as a template provides improved catalytic activity in the methanol dehydration reaction.