Synthesis of Silica-Aluminas from Mixed Alkoxides under Short-Time Microgravity

Abstract

Homogeneous silica-aluminas were synthesized by hydrolysis of mixed alkoxides under short-time microgravity (μ - G) circumstance of 10-4G for 10 seconds using the microgravity experimental facility of Japan Microgravity Center (JAMIC, Kamisunagawa in Hokkaido).The hydrolysis of the mixed alkoxides was carried out by the mixing of benzene solution of methyltriethoxysilane and aluminum isopropoxide with water containing ammonia under μ -G circumstances to prepare the silica-alumina gels. The Silica-aluminas were synthesized by the heat treatment of the gels. The silica-aluminas synthesized under μ-G circumstances, had more homogeneously dispersive silica and alumina, finer particles, narrower particle size and higher catalytic activity than those synthesized under 1-G.