Boehmite Nanoparticles by the Two-Reverse Emulsion Technique

Boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by the two-reverse emulsion technique at 90°±1°C under constant agitation with varying Al³⁺ concentrations in the aqueous solution. A mixture of cyclohexane and the surfactant, sorbitan monooleate (Span 80), constituted the support solvent in the reverse emulsions. The synthesized particles were characterized by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD and FTIR results confirmed crystalline boehmite formation at 90°±1°C. The average particle size of boehmite was found to be 10 nm. The spherical morphology of the boehmite nanoparticles was confirmed by TEM.