Convenient synthesis of porous spherical particles

IEC 127

Allen W. Apblett and Satish Kuriyavar. Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Physical Sciences 107, Stillwater, OK 74078
Spherical powders are extremely useful in the areas of catalysis, gas adsorption, and water purification. Monodisperse spherical powders can order efficiently into close-packed structures that maximize the interaction between particles and surrounding fluids. Spherical particles are also efficiently fluidized for use in reactors. We have discovered a simple process for the synthesis of a wide variety of monodisperse, porous spherical metal oxide particles. The method utilizes ion exchange resin beads that are loaded with the desired metal cations. Subsequent firing produces porous ceramic replicas of the resin beads. Synthesis of garnet, ferrite, alumina, silica and ceria particles will be discussed.