MESOSTRUCTURED METAL OR NON-METAL OXIDES AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

摘要

The invention concerns a method for making mesostructured metal or non-metal oxides. Said method is essentially characterised in that it consists in: (a) mixing in a liquid reaction medium a surfactant and a metal or non-metal oxide at temperature enabling the surfactant to be dissolved in the reaction medium, the surfactant/metal or non-metal oxide molar ratio being less than 1; (b) heating the reaction medium to a temperature sufficiently high and for a sufficient time interval to enable the metal or non-metal oxide to be reorganised and to obtain a mesostructured metal or non-metal oxide; and (c) liquid-solid separation of the reaction medium to recuperate the mesostructured metal or non-metal oxide. The use of a surfactant/metal or non-metal oxide molar ratio less than 1 enable to avoid froth or bubble formation which greatly hinder any subsequent leaching. Thus almost all the surfactant is consumed in the production of mesostructured metal or non-metal oxides, and the silica excess can easily be removed and recycled subsequently.