The aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is Activated Alumina and is used for a wide range of industrial applications. Activated Alumina is expected to see a CAGR of 5.4% up to 2025, according to a recent report by Grand View Research. This is in large part due to its use in water treatment as a catalyst in the petrochemical or oil and gas industry.
The properties of activated alumina make it a perfect choice for many industrial settings. In addition to this, the crushing strength is high, the thermal shock resistance is excellent, and the chemical attack resistance is high. The high porosity and surface area of Activated Alumina have made it a popular adsorbent for many applications.
The production of an Activated Alumina product follows a carefully controlled process to achieve its desired characteristics.
In this article, we will discuss all about activated alumina balls such as their production, applications, etc.
Production of activated alumina
1. Activated alumina calcination
During the processing of aluminum hydroxide, a rotary kiln is used to thermally treat the material. Alumina, or aluminum oxide (Al2O3), is produced as a result of this calcination step in order to dehydrate or remove bound moisture from aluminum hydroxide.
The activation phase of alumina occurs when the structure becomes extremely porous at a specific temperature. To control the properties of the finished product, process parameters such as temperature profile and residence time are used. In addition, the properties of the end product are affected by the makeup of the original bauxite source.
2. Activated alumina agglomeration
Agglomeration of the Activated Alumina is sometimes desirable, depending on its intended use. Adsorbents and catalysts are two common examples of this.
As a result of the agglomeration of Activated Alumina, specific application requirements can be tailored to a high degree. Agglomerated Alumina has many characteristics that are controlled in the process, including:
- Particle size distribution
- Amount of attrition or potential for dust generation
- Crush strength
- Bulk density
- Flowability
It is possible to make activated alumina “beads,” as they are commonly called, using a variety of techniques including agglomeration, pin mixing, disc pelletizing, or a combination of these.
Activated alumina applications
As with activated carbon, Activated Alumina has an increased surface area and porosity, which makes it suitable for use as an adsorbent, desiccant, and so on. Activated Alumina products are commonly used for:
1. Adsorbents
In addition to being highly effective in gas and liquid adsorbent applications, activated alumina is used by a number of industries to target the removal of specific elements from other media.
Activated Alumina is a popular adsorbent for water filtering applications where it functions as a cost-effective adsorbent to remove fluoride. It may also be used to remove contaminants such as arsenic, lead, and sulfur.
It is also used as an adsorbent in the oil and gas industry. Valves also play an important role in these industries so you should buy them from the best oil and gas valve manufacturers.
2. Desiccant
Activated Alumina, similar to silica gel, acts as both a desiccant and as an adsorbent, so it can also be used for drying purposes, as it can trap moisture and keep it from flowing back into the system. Activated Alumina is capable of absorbing up to 20% of its own weight as a desiccant at 50% relative humidity.
Alumina is commonly used in industrial applications as a desiccant to remove water vapor from gasses. Water may be desorbed from the Activated Alumina via thermal treatment, and the Alumina can be reused.
3. Water filtration
As a point-of-entry or point-of-use device for treating water, activated Alumina can be used. Instead of filtering contaminants, Alumina absorbs them. Activated Alumina is effective depending on its properties, the contaminant, the device design, and the water quality.
Source water with high dissolved solids levels or a high sulfate concentration may benefit from activated alumina treatment. Activated Alumina has a serious drawback, however: Regenerating it requires the use of strong base and acid solutions too strong for handling and storing at home.
How activated alumina works in water filtration?
There are Activated Alumina granules encapsulated in Activated Alumina devices. The Activated Alumina granules effectively bind certain contaminants as water is passed through the device.
According to its chemical form, Activated Alumina is more effective at removing some contaminants than others. When water is chlorinated before Activated Alumina is added, the arsenic will be converted into the form most likely to be adsorbable by the chemical.
Alumina treatment success requires a pH-controlled environment. pH levels should generally be less than 8.5 for water. pH levels between 5 and 6 are ideal for fluoride. pH levels of 7 are suitable for arsenic. If Activated Alumina is to be effective, the water may need to be pretreated to reduce pH.
Activated Alumina plates cannot be clogged with solids in untreated water, so a sediment cartridge filter is required to pretreat the water. The EPA Secondary Drinking Water Standards call for iron and manganese concentrations to be below 0.3 milligrams per liter, and 0.05 milligrams per liter, respectively.
4. Catalysts
In addition to its broad application as a catalyst, activated alumina is also used as an inert carrier or substrate for other catalysts. Activated Alumina’s major role in the oil and gas industry is that of a Claus catalyst.
China activated alumina is one of the best desiccants available all over the world.
Conclusion
Activated Alumina is used in many industrial settings because it functions as a desiccant, adsorbent, and catalyst. The Activated Alumina is a mineral product created by activating aluminum oxide by calcination. It can be customized to meet specific needs and is often agglomerated to enhance performance and handling. Activated Alumina products often require feasibility testing.
So, we hope now you have got enough information about activated alumina balls. It is an extremely important chemical in the largest industrial sector- the oil and gas industry.
Moreover, do not forget to secure your commercial workplace or residence with a high voltage vacuum contactor.
