Activated alumina is an efficient desiccant for absorbing moisture in gases and liquids, and also offers protection from toxic materials entering water runoff by eliminating their presence in factories or areas.
To create activated alumina, aluminum trihydroxide must first be thermally decomposed into a partially hydrated powder with loss on ignition values between 4-7 percent. Once formed, it is bound with water into beads, pellets or granules for further use.
High Crush Strength
Activated alumina is highly crush-resistant and wear- and impact-resistant, giving it long shelf life and reduced risks of product degradation when stored or transported in sealed containers. This also helps preserve perishable items like foods or chemicals.
Due to its porous and expansive surface area, activated alumina absorbs moisture effectively, thus lowering humidity levels in the air or other gases. This feature makes activated alumina an invaluable ally when dealing with sensitive products like electronics or certain chemicals that could be negatively impacted by too much humidity. Furthermore, activated alumina’s ability to trap unwanted moisture reduces fire or explosion risks in industrial processes.
The adsorption capacity of activated alumina desiccant is dependent on numerous factors, including its pore structure and surface area, the relative humidity in its surroundings, temperature of its bed, etc. However, it has the ability to bind 35-40 pounds of water in an environment with 90% relative humidity.
Once an alumina desiccant reaches its adsorption capacity, it can be regenerated either thermally or chemically. For instance, fluoride filters use an alum-rich solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for chemical regeneration – although thermal regeneration may also work effectively depending on specific circumstances or strict purity requirements for its bed regenerated this way.
Low Dust Content
Activated alumina has an extremely low dust content, making it safe to handle and package. This makes it an ideal material choice for use in industrial applications requiring dry conditions – for instance when shipping chemical compounds that could potentially react with machinery parts susceptible to corrosion. Furthermore, its moisture-blocking qualities also ensure it protects materials stored for extended periods in sealed containers from becoming damp from their surroundings.
Silica gel is produced synthetically from silicon dioxide and often comes from sand, while activated alumina comes from natural aluminium ore and undergoes high temperature activation to produce an inert material with far fewer reactive limitations and greater durability than silica gel.
Active Alumina features large pores which increase its surface area and adsorption capacity, as evidenced by this electron micrograph showing two magnifications [9]. Furthermore, its resistance to attrition and its stable specific surface area make it suitable for applications where multiple magnifications may be needed [8-9].
Activated alumina does not soften or swell in water environments and resists mechanical impact, making it suitable for deep drying desiccant applications as well as air separation processes such as petrochemical gas and liquid drying, automated instrument air and solvent drying, pressure swing adsorption air separation. No matter its use or application, however, activated alumina should always be handled according to established guidelines; such as wearing protective clothing (gloves and long sleeves) and using a dust mask in order to minimize direct skin contact with activated alumina surfaces.
Excellent Adsorption Capacity
Activated alumina has a high specific surface area, increasing its adsorption capacity. Its pores and voids offer plenty of binding sites for gases and vapors that adhere strongly and selectively, making the material perfect for applications requiring highly focused purification processes.
Activated alumina stands out from other adsorbents as it does not react chemically, and is generally stable under most conditions. This guarantees reliable performance across different environments and prevents any dangerous chemicals from being absorbed by it.
Making activated alumina requires carefully controlled heating of hydrated alumina, which ejects its water molecules through pores in its structure, leaving behind porous structure with high specific surface area and an internal porosity index rating. Once finished, activated alumina is bound with liquid or powder adhesives in order to form desired size and shape granules.
Activated alumina offers many benefits, including its excellent absorption capabilities for gaseous and some liquid moisture, regeneration by heating to remove water multiple times, desiccation capabilities and even removal of harmful fluorides from drinking water.
To preserve its effectiveness, activated alumina should be stored in airtight containers that are free from harmful reagents and chemicals that could erode it over time. Cool and dry environments also help preserve its adsorbing capacities.
Environmentally Friendly
Activated alumina is an inert material with no chemical reactions with most gases and liquids, such as air. However, like any desiccant, it must be stored away from incompatible chemicals or substances to avoid premature adsorption and contamination. Furthermore, as heat damage to alumina may damage its inert properties further; to maintain these inert properties it should be stored in cool, dry environments with low humidity levels for best results. To protect its inert properties it should also be handled under safe handling conditions with personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety goggles/face shield/chemical-resistant gloves/dust mask for safe handling purposes and to reduce eye irritation/inhalation/inhalation/inhalation during handling operations.
Compared to silica gel’s more intricate surface structure, activated alumina has higher reactivity and can absorb large quantities of hydrogen ions (H+) more easily, making it an efficient water dehydrator suitable for desiccating applications.
Active Alumina’s adsorption capacity is one of its hallmarks for use in drying and purification applications, such as dehumidification. Furthermore, its unique chemical makeup makes it an essential catalyst support in producing ethylene and propylene from petroleum gas; additionally it serves as an indispensable solution for treating fluoride-rich drinking water while simultaneously helping remove degradation acids from transformer oils and lubricating oil transformers.
Regenerating activated alumina is an economical and versatile choice for moisture management in various environments, offering lower costs and extended lifespan. Simply using water or other solvents can easily regenerate it for easy reactivation – making this choice suitable for businesses of any size.