Large quantities of boron nitride (BN) nanotubes were synthesized by annealing a catalytic boron-containing porous precursor in flowing NH3 gas at 1180 degrees C. The porous precursor was prepared by self-propagation high-temperature synthesis (SHS) method at 800 degrees C using Mg, B2O3 and amorphous boron powder (alpha-B) as the starting materials. The porous precursor played an important role in large quantities synthesis of BN nanotubes. The as-synthesized product was characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), Raman, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Characterization results indicated that the BN nanotubes displayed wave-like inner structures with diameters in the range of 50-300 nm and average lengths of more than 10 mu m. The possible growth mechanism of the BN nanotubes was also discussed. (c) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.