Synthesis of pseudoboehmite – effect of acetate ion

Abstract Pseudoboehmite (AlOOH.xH2O) is one of the precursors of alumina. Its calcination produces different phases of alumina and at 1200º C the most stable phase, α-alumina, is formed. The synthesis of pseudoboehmite by the sol-gel process results in a product with high purity, high specific surface area, and high reproducibility. The aging of the pseudoboehmite at temperatures above room temperature results in pseudoboehmites with distinct properties. In this work we report the synthesis of pseudoboehmite by the sol-gel process, using aluminum nitrate and aluminum chloride as precursors, and investigate the effect of acetate ion on crystallinity, adsorption capacity, particle morphology, thermal properties and specific surface area. The X-ray diffraction data of the synthesized pseudoboehmites in the presence of the acetate ion revealed high quality nanoparticles.