Granular γ-Al2O3 support and 8 wt % CuO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst were synthesized by a sol−gel
granulation method. The pore structure, crush strength, hardness, and elasticity of these sol−gel-derived catalysts were studied and compared with similar commercial catalysts prepared
by non-sol−gel methods. Alumina and CuO-coated alumina granular particles prepared by
different methods have different macro- and microstructure. The sol−gel-derived granular
γ-alumina and CuO-coated γ-alumina granular particles have a structure defined by compact
packing of uniform, nanosized γ-alumina crystallites. They are characterized by a more uniform
pore size distribution and larger surface area as compared to similar commercial samples with
a structure defined by packing of aggregates consisting of nonuniform γ-alumina crystallites.
Because of the differences in the macro- and microstructure, the sol−gel-derived granular samples
offer higher crush strength and greater hardness than the commercial samples.
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