Aluminum Containing MCF Silica as Highly Efficient Solid Acid Catalyst for Alcohol Esterification.

Aluminum incorporated mesocellulous silica foams (Al-MCF) with various Si/Al ratios have been hydrothermally synthesized. The characterization results indicate that the characteristic mesocellular structural features of MCF are preserved after the aluminum incorporation. The catalysts exhibit highly catalytic performance in the esterification of acetic acid with amyl alcohol in the liquid phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]