Influence of the synthesis methods on the physical and structural characteristics of 0.6TiO(2)center dot 0.4Al(2)O(3) catalytic supports

A series of 0.6TiO(2). 0.4Al(2)O(3) catalytic supports has been prepared by both non-hydrolytic route and hydrolytic sol-gel processes. Some synthesis variables, such as the use of ethylene glycol as complexing agent, the gen eration in situ of the hydrolysis water, or the separated hydrolysis of the respective alkoxides, have been studied for the samples prepared by the hy drolytic sol-gel method. The physical and structural characterisation of th e samples has been carried out by different techniques. The textural result s show that the surface area and the pore size distribution are influenced by the synthesis method, which also affects the thermal behaviour and the c rystallization process of the samples. The distribution of acid sites is al so different, depending on the synthesis conditions. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academ ic Publishers.