Patent ID: 8003567

Claim:
A method of preparing a support material composition comprising: providing a first organic phase; providing a second organic phase; contacting the first and second organic phases to form a mixed organic phase; providing an aqueous phase; contacting and mixing the mixed organic phase and the aqueous phase to form a reaction mixture having an interface between the mixed organic phase and the aqueous phase; allowing a solid to precipitate; heating the reaction mixture to remove the liquids; and isolating a support material having macropores, wherein the first organic phase comprises a first non-polar, non-aqueous solvent and at least one surface-active agent, the second organic phase comprises a second non-polar, non-aqueous solvent and at least one support metal precursor, and the support material comprises an oxide or oxides of the at least one support metal precursor, the first and second non-polar, non-aqueous solvents independently comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of pentane, hexane, heptane, and octane, the surface-active agent comprises at least one or more members selected from the group consisting of oleic acid, oleyl amine, trioctylphosphine oxide, trioctyl phosphine, stearic acid, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, polysorbate 80, and a mixture of polyoxyethylene tert-octylphenyl ethers, and the at least one support metal precursor comprises an alkoxide of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of silicon, zirconium and aluminum.