Inorganic oxides with mesoporosity or combined meso-and microporosity and process for the preparation thereof

A process for producing an inorganic oxide that contains only mesopores and less than 3 volume percent micropores, comprising:

• heating a mixture containing water, an inorganic oxide and at least one compound that binds to the inorganic oxide by hydrogen bonding, said heating being to a temperature and for a time to produce an inorganic oxide that contains both micropores and mesopores, and hydrothermally heating said inorganic oxide containing both micropores and mesopores to reduce the micropores to less than 3 percent by pore volume of mesopores and micropores.

A process for producing an inorganic oxide that contains mesopores and a substantial amount of micropores, comprising:

• heating a mixture comprising water, an inorganic oxide and at least one compound that binds to the inorganic oxide by hydrogen bonding, said heating being to a temperature below the temperature at which there is substantial formation of mesopores, and removing said at least one compound at a temperature below the temperature at which there is substantial formation of mesopores to produce an inorganic oxide that contains mesopores and a substantial amount of micropores.

A process for producing an inorganic oxide that contains mesopores, comprising:

• heating a mixture comprising water, an inorganic oxide, and at least one compound that binds to the inorganic oxide by hydrogen bonding, to about the boiling point of water, whereby water is evaporated from said mixture, and said compound that binds to the inorganic oxide by hydrogen bonding is retained in said mixture;
• and
• heating said mixture to a temperature above the boiling point of water and up to the boiling point of said compound which binds to said inorganic oxide by hydrogen bonding, whereby said mesopores are formed in said inorganic oxide.

A product comprising:

• a non-crystalline inorganic oxide, said inorganic oxide including micropores and mesopores, wherein said inorganic oxide has one peak in an X-ray diffraction pattern where 2θ between 0.5 and 2.5° and wherein said mesopores are interconnected mesopores.

A product, comprising:

• a non-crystalline inorganic oxide, said inorganic oxide including mesopores, wherein said inorganic oxide has one peak in an X-ray diffraction pattern where 2θ is between 0.5 and 2.5° and wherein said mesopores are interconnected mesopores.