received by the International Bureau on 26 December 2018 (26.12.2018)

1. A method of producing a hydrophobic porous alumina comprising the steps of: i) providing a slurry comprising an alumina compound, the slurry having a pH equal to or greater than 7;

ii) adding an organic composition comprising carboxylic acids with alkyl hydrocarbon chains having a carbon length less than 10, to the slurry to form an acidic modified slurry; the acidic modified slurry having a pH of between 3 and less than 7;

iii) hydrothermally aging the acidic modified slurry to form a hydrothermally aged slurry; and

iv) drying the hydrothermally aged slurry.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alumina compound includes aluminum oxide hydroxide (AIOOH), boehmite or pseudoboehmite.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic composition comprises carboxylic acids with alkyl hydrocarbon chains having a carbon length of less than 12.

4. CANCELLED

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic composition comprises carboxylic acids with alkyl hydrocarbon chains having a carbon length of 9.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic composition comprises carboxylic acids with alkyl hydrocarbon chains having a carbon length of 8 or less than 8.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the acid modified slurry has a pH of between 3.5 and 5.5.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein, the organic composition content relative to the content of alumina compound in the acidic modified slurry is between 0.5 and 10 % wt.

9. A porous hydrophobic alumina prepared according to the method of claims 1 to 8.

10. A porous hydrophobic alumina including the following characteristics: i) an aspect ratio of between 1.80 and 5.0, preferably 1.8 and 3.5 and most preferably 2 and 3.5;

ii) an average pore value between 0.55 cc/g and 2.0 cc/g, preferably

between 0.55 cc/g and 1.1 cc/g

iii) a specific surface area of between 30m²/g and 300 m²/g, preferably

between 30 m²/g and 150 m²/g and most preferably 30 m²/g and 100 m²/g; and

iv) an organic composition content between 0.5 and 10 wt. % relative to the content of alumina, preferably an organic composition content between 0.5 and wt. 5 % relative to the content of alumina.

1 1. A composition including a porous hydrophobic alumina prepared according to the method of claim 1 and a substrate.

12. The composition of claim 9 wherein the substrate includes polymers,

crosslinked polymers, nylon resins, and acrylic resins e.g.

polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrenes, styrene acrylate resins, polyester resins, waxes, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, rubber, epoxy resins, silicone, cellulose, fabric, polytetrafluoroethylene, silica glass particles, metal oxides, ceramics and carbon substrates

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