Alumina nanopowder production from synthetic Bayer liquor

Alkoxides are the most common precursors used for the production of alumina nanopowders. These materials are, however, expensive and corrosive. This paper introduces a new method for the production of alumina nanopowders by rapid cooling of a synthetic caustic sodium aluminate solution (Bayer liquor), followed by calcination in the presence of a surface-stabilizing agent like 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-benzene disulfonic acid disodium salt (Tiron). The powders produced are characterized by differential thermal analysis, XRD, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller. A nanopowder of alpha-alumina with an average crystallite size of 27.7 nm and an average particle size of 50 nm is produced.