Catalytic supports with controlled pore properties

Claim 1

A catalyst support consisting essentially of a magnesia-alumina-aluminum phosphate matrix characterized after calcination at 500° C. for 10 hours as amorphous, and having an average pore radius of from about 10 A to about 300 A, a surface area ranging from 100 m 2 /g to about 350 m 2 /g, a pore volume of from about 0.3 cc/g to about 1.5 cc/g, wherein the magnesia-alumina-aluminum phosphate matrix contains magnesia in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 25 mole percent, alumina in an amount ranging from about two to about 85 mole percent, and aluminum phosphate in an amount ranging from at least about three mole percent but less than about 10 mole percent, or in the range above about 65 mole percent to about 85 mole percent, and wherein said matrix retains at least about 90 percent of its surface area when the matrix is additionally calcined at a temperature up to about 750° C. for about 10 hours.