Synthesis of alumina powders by the glycine-nitrate combustion process

The combustion synthesis technique using glycine as fuel and aluminum nitrate as an oxidizer is able to produce alumina powders. Thermodynamic modeling of the combustion reaction shows that as the fuel-to-oxidant ratio increases, the amount of gases produced and adiabatic flame temperatures also increases. X-ray diffractions showed the amorphous structure for as-synthesized powder and presence of well-crystallized α-Al₂O₃ after calcination at 1100 °C during soaking time of 1 h. Alumina's largest measured specific surface area was 15 m²/g with BET method and 0.51 glycine-to-nitrate ratio.