Sol-gel synthesis of nanoporous γ-alumina using TX-100 or gelatin/TX-100 mixture as effective catalysts for dehydration of alcohols

Abstract

In this study, the nanoporous γ-alumina catalysts were prepared by the sol-gel method using hydrolysis of aluminum isopropoxide in the presence of TX-100 or gelatin/TX-100 mixture. Catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, BET-BJH and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms. To investigate reactivity and selectivity of the synthesized catalysts, dehydration reaction of 2-octanol was carried out in a plug flow vertical reactor at 200 °C. The main products of elimination reaction were 1-octene, 3-octene, cis- and trans-2-octene, which were identified by GC-MS. The reaction conversion and yield of the products were determined using GC. The prepared catalysts had nanometer-sized pores, high surface area and large pore volume. Their catalytic activity for dehydration of 2-octanol was higher than non-porous γ-alumina catalysts. These compounds could be used as effective catalysts for dehydration of alcohols.