“…[10][11][12][13]21 The alumina gel, covered with a surfactant layer, was added to 20 mL of isooctane under stirring at 100 C and the Na(AOT) layer acted as a "glue" for the incorporation of the alumina particles onto the silica microspheres. After 2 h, 1.50 g of silica microspheres, previously dried at 140 C for 12 h, were directly added to the alumina suspension at 100 C, and the reaction process was kept under continuous stirring for 24 h. The reaction mixture was filtered using a 0.22-μm nylon membrane; the solid material was calcinated at 500 C for 30 min, and washed sequentially with isooctane, toluene, isopropanol, methanol and ultrapurified water.…”