A carbonaceous preform (C-preform) was prepared by thermal and microwave (MW) processing of short lengths (0.02- 0.06 m) of dry stems of jute (Corchorus capsularis L). Infiltration of an Al2O3-sol into the C-preforms and a subsequent oxidising heat treatment (1273-1723 K) resulted in the formation of an ultralight monophasic Al2O3 ceramic (bulk density ~200 kg·m−3) with perfect replication of the pore structure of the starting C-preforms derived from the jute stems (JS). The cellular porous alumina ceramics derived from JS having special morphologies with a long, large and oriented growth of alpha alumina grains are likely to be suitable for devices such as high temperature insulators, catalyst supports, permeators for gas phase reactions at elevated temperatures, and biomaterials such as for controlled drug release devices.

Keywords: Jute stem, Cellular carbonaceous preform, Ultralight cellular alumina.