Process for preparing an alumina composition

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for preparing an alumina composition having high specific surface area and large pore volume, comprising preparing a reaction mixture having a given molar ratio between a monobasic acid and water by the use of an aluminum source such as acid-containing alumina obtained by heat treatment of aluminum hydroxide in the presence of an acid, bayerite, ρ-alumina and γ-alumina, optionally adding an oxygen-containing organic compound or an inorganic polybasic acid as a pore structure controlling agent, performing sol-forming reaction, and then subjecting the product obtained by the sol-forming reaction to an appropriate operation such as alkali addition or heat dehydration treatment. Also disclosed are a catalyst for petroleum refining, a carrier of monolithic type obtained by monolithic molding, and a molded carrier having a porous structure having pore size of submicron to several tens micron particless, all of which take advantage of properties of fibrous boehmite produced by the above process.