Synthesis and Characterization of Pseudoboehmite and Gamma-Alumina
Pseudoboehmite (PB) were synthesized through the sol-gel process, using aluminum nitrate as precursor. The pH adjustment of the precursor solution was made by using ammonium carbonate. After the precipitation, the material was dried at 70°C before characterization. The pseudoboehmite obtained were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and afterwards by thermal analysis (DTA and TG). The pseudoboehmite was also calcined at 500oC to obtain gamma-alumina. The specific surface area measurements through the BET process and the desorption-absorption of nitrogen as well the t plot in order to evaluate the pore volume of the calcined samples was realized. Finally, the results showed that the synthesized pseudoboehmite can be used to produce high specific surface material with a crystal structure of gamma-Al2O3(around 324m2/g).