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Optimization of Effective Sol‐Gel Parameters for the Synthesis of Mesoporous γ ‐Al 2 O 3 Using Experimental Design
Author(s) -
Masouleh Niloufar S. Ghavami,
Taghizadeh Majid,
Yaripour Fereydoon
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201300747
Subject(s) - dimethyl ether , catalysis , mesoporous material , taguchi methods , desorption , methanol , scanning electron microscope , materials science , nanocrystalline material , adsorption , chemical engineering , thermal desorption spectroscopy , aluminium , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , engineering
Mesoporous nanocrystalline γ ‐alumina was prepared by a template‐free sol‐gel method using aluminum ethoxide as precursor. Significant parameters, such as the water/aluminum ethoxide molar ratio, the pH of the solution, and the time and temperature of aging, were optimized by the Taguchi method to obtain γ ‐alumina with a high surface area and pore volume. The influences of the main parameters on the catalytic performance of the prepared catalysts were investigated via dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether in a fixed‐bed reactor. The catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption‐desorption, ammonia temperature‐programmed desorption, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The results show that the aging temperature had a significant influence on the catalyst performance.