Simultaneous Al₂O₃ doping and sulfation in hierarchically porous ZrO₂ solid acids by an one-pot synthesis for enhanced recycling catalytic performances

Alumina doping and sulfation in hierarchically porous zirconia solid acids have been achieved simultaneously via one-pot and bi-surfactant-assisted self-assembly process, using aluminum sulfate as both Al and SO₄ ^2- sources. The prepared composite solid acids showed much enhanced acidity and recycling catalytic activity for an esterification reaction compared with sulfated zirconia without alumina doping and Al-doped sulfated zirconia without hierarchically porous structure.