Optimization of Effective Sol‐Gel Parameters for the Synthesis of Mesoporous γ ‐Al 2 O 3 Using Experimental Design

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.