Preparation of Nano γ- Alumina from Iraqi Kaolin تحضير نانو كاما الومينا من الكاؤولين العراقي

Abstract

The work reports a process for synthesis of γ-alumina from kaolin. Kaolin was transformed to metakaolin by calcination at (750°C) for (45 min) . γ-alumina powder was synthesized through extracting alumina from metakaolin via H2SO4 and metakaolin reactions and consequently precipitation in ethanol, which led to form the aluminum sulfate (99%) .The precipitated aluminum sulfate was dried and calcined at different temperatures to study thermal decomposition of aluminum sulfate. Pure alumina nanoparticle (98.81%) was prepared by calcination of aluminum sulfate at (1000 °C) for (2 h) . The specific surface area, pore volume and pore size for γ-alumina nano particles were determined by BET measurement (117 m2 / gm, 1.1 cm3/g & 337.6 Aο respectively). The size of the particles obtained were also calculated from (BET) analysis (13 nm). The study revealed the kaolin could be a promising material for preparation of γ-alumina.