Preparation and Properties of Pillared Synthetic Boron-Containing Saponite

A novel synthetic boron-containing saponite was prepared hydrothermally at 260°C under autogenous pressure in the system of Na2O-SiO2 -Al2 O3-B2O3 — MgO. The alumina-pillared synthetic boron-containing saponite [designated as Al-PSBCS(X), X is the added boron moles that are based on Mg=6 moles in the preparation] possessed both higher cumene dealkylation activity [93.4 wt.%] and better benzene selectivity [74.0 wt.%] than alumina-pillared non-boron clay Al-PSBCS(0) [ 73.5 wt.%, 70.0 wt.%, respectively]. Chemical analysis results showed that boron was incorporated into the pillared product. The dehydroxylation endotherm of structural OH of Al-PSBCS(3.0) [807°C] occurred at higher temperature than that of Al-PSBCS(0) [795°C].