Effect of Solvent Diols and Ligands on the Properties of Sol-Gel Alumina-Silicas

Amorphous alumina-silicas were prepared from a tetra-alkoxysilane and anhydrous aluminum trichloride or an aluminum alkoxide by a sol-gel process using 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, pinacol, 1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol or ethylene glycol as the solvent or complexing agent, and the effect of diols and alkoxy groups on the physical and chemical properties of the alumina-silicas was examined. When the diol or the alkoxy group was bulky, the alumina-silicas had relatively larger micropores, a larger pore volume and higher surface areas. In the conversion of methanol catalyzed by the alumina-silicas, the bulkier diols and alkoxides gave catalysts that produced dimethyl ether in higher yield and hydrocarbons in lower yield. Thus, when ethylene glycol was used as the diol, the best catalyst for the production of hydrocarbons, especially the production of olefins such as ethylene, propylene and butene, was obtained. Furthermore, in comparison with alumina-silica prepared by a traditional kneading process, it was found that the sol-gel alumina-silica could efficiently convert methanol to dimethyl ether and hydrocarbons, but the material prepared by kneading had a very low conversion of methanol to other compounds.