# US 2018/0021755 A1 · Porous bodies with enhanced pore architecture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021755 A1 - Document ID: US20180021755A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/722,696 - Filed: 2017-10-02 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-02 - Assignees: Scientific Design Company, Inc. - Applicants: Scientific Design Company, Inc. - Inventors: Wojciech L. Suchanek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021755A1 ## CPC - B01J 21/04: Alumina - B01J 19/0013: {Controlling the temperature of the process} - B01J 23/04: Alkali metals - B01J 23/36: Rhenium - B01J 23/50: Silver - B01J 35/612: {less than 10 m2/g} - B01J 35/633: {less than 0.5 ml/g} - B01J 35/635: {0.5-1.0 ml/g} - B01J 35/638: {more than 1.0 ml/g} - B01J 35/66: Pore distribution - B01J 37/0018: {Addition of a binding agent or of material, later completely removed among others as result of heat treatment, leaching or washing,(e.g. forming of pores; protective layer, desintegrating by heat)} - B01J 37/086: {Decomposition of an organometallic compound, a metal complex or a metal salt of a carboxylic acid} - C04B 38/00: Porous mortars, concrete, artificial stone or ceramic ware; Preparation thereof (treating slag with gases or gas generating material C04B5/06 {; expanded graphite C04B35/536}) - C04B 38/0096: {Pores with coated inner walls} - C04B 38/08: by adding porous substances - C04B 41/009: {characterised by the material treated} - C04B 41/4535: {applied as a solution, emulsion, dispersion or suspension} - C04B 41/5116: {Ag or Au} - C04B 41/88: Metals - C07D 301/10: with catalysts containing silver or gold - C07D 301/22: by oxidation of saturated compounds with air or molecular oxygen (of mixtures of unsaturated and saturated compounds C07D301/04) - B01J 2219/00051: Controlling the temperature - C04B 2111/0081: {as catalysts or catalyst carriers} - Y02P 20/52: using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A porous body is provided with enhanced fluid transport properties that is capable of performing or facilitating separations, or performing reactions and/or providing areas for such separations or reactions to take place. The porous body includes at least 80 percent alpha alumina and has a pore volume from 0.3 mL/g to 1.2 mL/g and a surface area from 0.3 m2/g to 3.0 m2/g. The porous body further includes a pore architecture that provides at least one of a tortuosity of 7.0 or less, a constriction of 4.0 or less and a permeability of 30 mdarcys or greater. The porous body can be used in a wide variety of applications such as, for example, as a filter, as a membrane or as a catalyst carrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A precursor mixture for producing a porous body, the precursor mixture comprising: (i) at least one milled alpha alumina powder having a particle size of 0.1 microns to 6 microns, (ii) a non-silicate binder, and (iii) at least one principle burnout material having a particle size of 1 micron to 10 microns. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The precursor mixture of claim 1, wherein the least one milled alpha alumina powder, the non-silicate binder, and the at least one principle burnout material are in a homogeneous mixture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The precursor mixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one principle burnout material is a granulated polyolefin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The precursor mixture of claim 3, wherein the granulated polyolefin is one of polyethylene and polypropylene. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The precursor mixture of claim 1, further comprising unmilled alpha alumina powder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The precursor mixture of claim 5, wherein the unmilled alpha alumina powder has an average particle size from 10 microns to 100 microns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The precursor mixture of claim 5, wherein a weight ratio of the milled alpha alumina powder to the unmilled alpha alumina powder is from about 0.25:1 to 5:1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The precursor mixture of claim 5, further comprising an additional unmilled alpha alumina powder having a particle size greater the particle size of the unmilled alpha alumina powder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The precursor mixture of claim 8, wherein a weight ratio of the milled alpha alumina powder to the additional unmilled alpha alumina powder is from about 0.2:1 to 5:1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The precursor mixture of claim 1, further comprising a solvent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The precursor mixture of claim 1, wherein the least one milled alpha alumina powder is dispersed in deionized water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The precursor mixture of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary burnout material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The precursor mixture of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary burnout material is graphite. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The precursor mixture of claim 12, wherein a weight ratio of principle burnout material to auxiliary burnout material is 1:1 to 5:4. ### Claim 15 A method for producing a porous body, the method comprising: providing a precursor mixture comprising (i) milled alpha alumina powder having a particle size of 0.1 to 6 microns, (ii) a non-silicate binder, and (iii) a principle burnout material having a particle size of 1-10 microns; forming a predetermined shape; and subjecting the shape to a heat treatment step in which the shape is sintered to produce the porous body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the porous body comprises at least 80 percent alpha alumina and having a pore volume from 0.3 mL/g to 1.2 mL/g, a surface area from 0.3 m2/g to 3.0 m2/g, and a pore architecture that provides at least one of a tortuosity of 7 or less, a constriction of 4 or less and a permeability of 30 mdarcys or greater. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the providing the precursor mixture comprises providing a homogenous mixture of the milled alpha alumina powder, the non-silicate binder, and the principle burnout material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the principle burnout material is a granulated polyolefin. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the granulated polyolefin is one of polyethylene and polypropylene. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the precursor mixture further comprises at least one of an unmilled alpha alumina powder and an auxiliary burnout material.