In Situ X-Ray Diffraction Study of the Initial Stages of Formation of MCM-41 in a Tubular Reactor

A continuous process for the synthesis of mesoporous silicates such as MCM-41 at room temperature has been achieved by employing a tubular reactor in which tetraethoxysilane was used as the silicate source (see schematic representation below). The formation of the hexagonal mesophase, which was monitored by using in situ XRD at different points of the tube, was completed in three minutes after mixing of the reactants. The product was stable to calcination, and N2-sorption measurements confirmed the high surface area and narrow pore-size distribution.