A new class of mesoporous materials for applications in Petroleum refining, 2002

Lamellar and hexagonal mesostructured aluminophosphates with pore diameters > 2 nm were synthesized as potential high surface area petroleum refining or oxidation catalysts. Phosphoric acid and three different aluminum sources, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum isopropoxide and psuedobohemite alumina, were used as the inorganic precursors. Cetyltrimethylammonium chloride surfactant was used as charge compensating cation and structure directing agent. Synthesis were conducted from reaction mixtures within the following molar composition range: xAl203:P205:yCI6TMACl:zTMA0H:wH20, where x= 0.29-2.34, y = 0.24-0.98, z=0.34-1.95,w= 86-700. The Lamellar phase was favored by extremely low Al/P ratios (