Samples　of　mesoporous　alumina　were　synthesized　by　the　sol-gel　method,　using　carbohydrate　as　template　and　aluminium　isopropoxide　as　the　source　of　aluminium.　XRD,　FT-IR,　TEM,　and　N-2　adsorption-desorption　analysis　were　used　to　characterize　the　effect　of　synthetic　conditions　on　the　composition　and　structure　of　the　samples.　Adsorption　capacity　for　n-butane　was　evaluated,　and　the　breakthrough　curves　were　simulated　by　use　of　a　mathematic　model.　The　results　showed　that　the　gamma-Al2O3　samples　had　a　mesoporous　structure.　The　specific　surface　area　of　samples　ranged　from　195.9　to　280.1　m(2)/g.　Samples　had　a　narrow　pore-size　distribution　(3-15　nm)　and　the　pore　volume　ranged　from　0.38　to　0.49　cm(3)/g.　The　sample　with　sucrose　as　template　had　a　wider　pore　distribution　and　larger　pore　diameter,　and　so　had　good　adsorption　properties.　The　adsorption　capacity　of　ASu-2　reached　3.68　mmol/g　adsorbent.