Reproducible synthesis of high quality MCM-48 by extraction and recuperation of the gemini surfactant

High quality MCM-48 can be repeatedly and reproducibly prepared, as a novel method for the extraction, recuperation and re-use of the gemini surfactant has been optimized. Gemini surfactants have the general formula [CnH2n+1N+(CH3)2(CH2)sN+(CH3)2CmH2m+1]·2Br, and have been shown to produce MCM-48 in a very convenient way. In each cycle, more than 95 wt% of the surfactant is extracted under mild conditions. The extracted surfactant does not degenerate during this treatment and can be re-used many times. The MCM-48 produced by this soft extraction, has a narrower mesoporous pore size distribution and a larger pore radius than materials prepared by normal temperature-programmed calcination. The surface of the extracted MCM-48 still contains sufficient silanol groups, although some silanol groups have been replaced by methoxy groups. The number of silanols on the surface of the MCM-48 has been titrated by surface reaction with hexamethyldisilazane, followed by quantification of the liberated NH3.