Strontium-catalyzed boehmite formation

1 . A strontium-catalyzed process for preparing boehmite, the process comprising:

combining a strontium material, flash calcined gibbsite, and water to obtain an aqueous suspension;

contacting the aqueous suspension with a water soluble carbonate material; and

heating the aqueous suspension to a temperature and for a time sufficient to form at least about 5 wt. % of boehmite based on total weight of the solid;

wherein the process further comprises removing strontium from the boehmite.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the strontium material comprises strontium carboxylate, strontium nitrate, strontium chloride, strontium bromide, strontium iodide, or a mixture of any two or more thereof.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the strontium material is present in an amount below the saturation point of the strontium material in the aqueous solution.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous suspension comprises about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. % solids.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises heating the aqueous suspension to a temperature of about 30° C. to about 110° C. prior to contacting the aqueous suspension with the water soluble carbonate material.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution has a pH of about 7 to about 10.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein at least about 10 wt. % to 100 wt. % of boehmite is formed based on the total weight of solids.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process has a faster crystallite size growth rate relative to a boehmite formation process that is not strontium-catalyzed.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the boehmite has a crystallite size of about 100 Å to about 200 Å.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein removing strontium from the boehmite comprises: combining the boehmite with water and a weak acid to obtain a reaction mixture; heating the reaction mixture; and removing the boehmite from the reaction mixture.