Synthesis of mesoporous aluminophosphates and their adsorption properties

Hexagonal mesostructured alkyltrimethylammonium-aluminophosphate materials were prepared by using hexadecyltrimethylammonium and dococyltrimethylammonium chlorides as surfactants and by utilizing 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene as an auxiliary organic additive. Calcination of these materials at 600 degrees C yielded thermally stable mesoporous aluminophosphate materials with large surface areas above 700 m(2) g(-1) and with pore diameters in the range from 1.8 to 3.9 nm. The hexagonal mesostructured materials before calcination had less condensed frameworks as determined by P-31 MAS NMR, which caused certain shrinkages during calcination for the formation of the porous structures. Water and benzene adsorption data indicated that the mesoporous aluminophosphate materials had comparatively hydrophilic mesopores. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.