Synthesis of innovative ceramic sorbents and catalyst supports with hierarchical porosity

Abstract

From an industrial point of view, porous ceramics represent an important material, however, economically and technologically acceptable solutions are still being sought for its preparation. Porosity control is a key step in achieving the desired properties for a specific application. In order to obtain multiporous ceramics, in this work, kaolin clay and polystyrene beads were used as organic sacrificial phase. After mixing, the samples were sintered at 1050 oC for 1 h. Characterization included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRPD), elemental CHNS analysis and compressive strength investigations. The analysis of the obtained results showed that hierarchically ordered, multiporous ceramics, with appropriate mechanical properties can be prepared in the presence of an organic component whose burnout during sintering leaves behind pores of different dimensions.

Keywords

• kaolin
• sorbents
• catalysts
• polystryrene
• controlled open porosity