Synthesis of Surface-Active Aluminium Oxide from Kaolin Clay for Industrial Applications

Aluminium oxide has a wide range of industrial application, whose utilization can be enhanced through the exploration of solid minerals, such as kaolin. This study synthesized γ-alumina from kutigi-kaolin. The kaolin was dried, crushed, sieved with 300 μm sieve size and thermally converted to meta-kaolin at 800 °C. The meta-kaolin was treated with H2SO4 while the extracted aluminium precipitated as aluminium hydroxide by urea and thermally converted to γ-alumina at 800 °C. The characteristics of γ-alumina shows, it to be white in colour, insoluble in water but soluble in dilute acid. The particles were irregular in shape, with a high surface of 236.81 m
²
/g and pore size of 3.02 nm (mesoporous). The Al-O bond was detected at 615 and 1362.98 cm
^-1
positions in the infra-red spectra while the x-ray diffractogram peaks at 20, 22, 25, 35, 45 and 52.5° matches the gibbsite and γ-alumina phases. The alumina exhibited good thermal stability and relative purity of 36.81 wt. %. The high surface area and low pore size of the alumina indicate its suitability for use as catalyst support.