Synthesis and Characterization of γ-Alumina Porous Nanoparticles from Sodium Aluminate Liquor with Two Different Surfactants

Khazaei, A.; Nazari, S.; Karimi, Gh.; Ghaderi, E.; Mansouri Moradian, Kh.; Bagherpor, Z.; Nazari, S.

Synthesis and Characterization of γ-Alumina Porous Nanoparticles from Sodium Aluminate Liquor with Two Different Surfactants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

A. khazaei ¹

S. Nazari ²

Gh. Karimi ²

E. Ghaderi ¹

Kh. Mansouri Moradian ¹

Z. Bagherpor ²

S. Nazari ³

¹ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, P.O.Box 651783868, Hamadan, Iran

² Department of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University, P.O. Box 3414916818, Qazvin, Iran

³ Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering , Civil Engineering College of Hamedan P.O. Box 6515735617, Hamedan, Iran

Abstract

Among the various phases of alumina, two phases γ and α are the most widely used in various
industries. In this paper, γ-Al2O3 porous nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized from a simple
aqueous sol–gel method using inexpensive material such as: sodium aluminate liquor, HCl, NaOH,
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Sodium aluminate liquor was extracted from
Bayer liquor of alumina product processed in the Jajarm alumina factory. PEG and PVA were used as
structure-stabilizing agents. The structures and properties of samples calcined at 800 ºC, were
performed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), termogeravimetery analysis (TG/DTA), and N2 adsorption/desorption techniques.
Prepared sample of γ-Al2O3 with polyethylene glycol surfactant has an average crystallite size of 2.313
nm, average particle size of 20 nm, specific surface area (SSA) of 138.8 m2/g, and pore volume of ∼
0.166 cm3/g. The average crystallite size of 2.063 nm, average particle size of 46 nm, specific surface
area of 201.1 m2/g, and pore volume of ∼ 0.246 cm3/g, were achieved using polyvinyl alcohol surfactant.

Keywords

γ-alumina

Porous

Sodium aluminate liquor

nanoparticles

surfactant