Scaling dimensions of nitrogen adsorption characteristics in modulated mesoporous aluminophosphates

Abstract

Mesoporous alumina-aluminophosphates (MAAP) of the general formula Al100P(x)M20 (M = Al, Fe, Cr, and Ni and X = 0, 4.5, 9, 18, 36, 72, and 144) were tested for their pore size distribution by nitrogen adsorption. The distribution of pore size can be modified by the addition of phosphorus. The scaling or fractal dimensions (D(s)) of the adsorption characteristics in the pores, calculated from the plots of the log of the corresponding cumulative BJH desorption pores surface area versus the log of the corresponding pore size, indicate that for low values of P/P0, the adsorption proceeds in a two-dimensional manner, independently of the pore size distribution (p.s.d.). However, at high P/P0 values and narrow p.s.d. D(s) ≤ 3, while at wide p.s.d. D(s) > 3. At medium P/P0 values the D(s) values obtained were found as high as 10 for narrow pore size distribution and decrease as the p.s.d. becomes wide by the addition of phosphorus. These phenomena are related to the supercritical condensation of nitrogen in the pores of MAAP.