A facile rout to obtain Al2O3 nanopowder via recycling aluminum cans by sol-gel method

Abstract

Aluminum alkoxide compound was prepared using aluminum cans and used as a precursor in the mesoporous alumina synthesis processes by sol-gel method. The aging temperature of 25, 60, 80 °C and period of 12, 24 and 48 h were investigated as the main parameters in determining the sol particle size and the bonding process during the gel process. The results showed that the aging temperature of 80 °C and duration of 24 h are the optimum conditions for the synthesis of mesoporous alumina with superior properties in terms of specific surface area and porosity. The estimation of calcination temperature showed that the minimum temperature required to reach the alumina phase is 500 °C. However, due to the necessity of the presence of crystalline phase with maximum ordering at atomic plane arrangement, 900 °C temperature and 1 h storage time were selected as the optimum calcination conditions. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies of the optimum sample showed that the final product consists of nanoparticles with same appearance, and the particle size distribution was in the range of 20 to 40 nm. Due to the binding of nanoparticles and the formation of larger masses, porosities in the meso-range are created in their microstructure, which introduces the end product to be used as a catalyst sub base.