The silicate support with a hierarchical structure based on diatomite and MCM-41 is synthesized. The MCM-41 is formed directly on the surface of diatomite and from the diatomite itself without the use of additional silica precursors. The structure of the synthesized samples is characterized by the low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was shown that hydrothermal treatment of diatomite with NaOH and cetyltrimethylammonia bromide leads to the partial dissolving of diatomite with self-assembly of MCM-41 fragments inside diatomite pores. The developed approach has demonstrated the opportunity to obtain the supports based on diatomite and MCM-41 that are characterized by a hierarchical structure (macropores of diatomite with size of 10-500 nm and mesopores of MCM-41 with size of 3-4 nm) and a high specific surface area that is promising for their application as supports for catalysts.

Silica gels are the porous materials widely employed in both the industry and housekeeping. Domestic manufacturers produce bead and powder silica gels; however, some application fields of silica gels completely depend on the import. So it is necessary to develop technologies for their production, the introduction of which would allow replacing the imported silica gels. The paper describes methods for improving the properties of bead silica gels and new approaches to the production of powder silica gels and silica gels with the ordered pore structure. It was proposed to use inexpensive feedstock for their preparation, particularly, industrial wastes from the production of alumina – Si-stoff, and the natural material – diatomite. By controlling the parameters of deposition and formation of the silica structure it is possible to obtain silica gels with a wide range of pore structure characteristics, which could be used in various application fields.

Two series of chromium–zirconium mixed oxide catalysts with different Cr/Zr molar ratio are prepared by co-precipitation method. Porous structure of the catalysts is studied by low-temperature N2 adsorption–desorption. Phase composition and chromium states in the catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen (TPR-H2). The mixed catalysts are tested in non-oxidative dehydrogenation of propane at 550 °C. The catalysts synthesized without ageing of precipitate show higher activity in propane dehydrogenation due to the higher content of reducible Cr+5/+6 species due to its stabilization on the ZrO2 surface.