Mechanical stability of mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-48 studied by adsorption of benzene, n-heptane, and cyclohexane

Research was conducted to examine the synthesis of the silica mesoporous material MCM-48 which was carried out in a 5 L autoclave. X-ray powder diffraction and 29Si MAS NMR were used to monitor the progress of the synthesis which was formed by an intermediate phase whose conversion ito the cubic phase was triggered by condensation of the silanol groups. Powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption and subcritical organic vapor adsorption isotherms and breakthrough curves were employed to study the mechanical stability of MCM-48.