Abstract: The physical and chemical characteristics, pore radius, pore size distribution and surface area, pore volume, porosity of the the membrane prepared
by sol-gel method using aluminum isoproxide were studied using TG--DTA, BET at different firing temperature from room temperature to 1000℃. The
preferred orientation of alumina micrograin of the alumina membrane was studied by XRD. The surface and cross-section were observed by TEM and SEM.
The pore size distribution are influenced by preferred orientation of alumina micrograin. The higher the firing temperature, the higher the degree of the
preferred orientation, the more the uniformity of the pore size distribution of the membrane, the bigger the largest the pore radius of the membrane.
400℃ is suitable firing temperature of the membrane used as membrane catalysis and/or membrane reaction with the largest the surface area, pore volume and porosity of 283m²/g, 0.338mL/g and 53%. 700℃ is
suitable firing temperature of the membrane used as separation with the surface area, pore volume and porosity of 202m²/g, 0.203mL/g and 45%.
The largest pore radiu is 5nm, pore with radius of 1～1.25nm is above 70% pore volume at 700℃.

Key words: inorganic membrane, alumina membrane, firing, pore configuration