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Tailoring of a γ‐Alumina Membrane with a Bimodal Pore Size Distribution for Improved Permeability
Author(s) -
Ahmad A. L.,
Leo C. P.,
Abd. Shukor S. R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2007.02095.x
Subject(s) - boehmite , materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , porosity , transmission electron microscopy , chemical engineering , scanning electron microscope , membrane , polystyrene , permeability (electromagnetism) , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , adsorption , composite material , aluminium , nanotechnology , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Porous γ‐alumina with a bimodal pore size distribution has been developed by adding nanosized polystyrene beads to boehmite sol as templating units. The primary pore diameter is in the range of 4–6 nm and the secondary pore diameter is ca. 50 nm with minor pore shrinkage. The unsupported γ‐alumina with different porous structures are characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption/desorption, and transmission electron microscopy. γ‐alumina with a bimodal porous structure shows reduced transport resistance compared with γ‐alumina with a unimodal porous structure in the dye adsorption test. Although the thickness of γ‐alumina thin layer increases when more secondary pores are generated, a γ‐alumina membrane with a bimodal pore size distribution shows diminution of transport resistance in the water permeability study also.