Activated alumina desiccant is created by heating aluminium hydroxide to high temperatures, disassociating water molecules from its molecules while creating a network of pores in its base material. This results in remarkable moisture-absorbing capabilities as well as an impressive internal surface area of between 150 to 300 square meters per gram – giving this substance amazing moisture-absorbing qualities and ability.
Compressed air systems often utilize this treatment to guard against corrosion, mold growth and degradation; electronics manufacturing industries use this solution to safeguard components against potential humidity damage.
High Surface Area-to-Weight Ratio
Activated alumina is composed of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and manufactured through heating it to form a porous material with a surface area that exceeds 200 square meters per gram. Due to this controlled activation process, manufacturers can tailor-make materials with specific pore structures tailored specifically for specific applications.
As a desiccant, activated alumina traps water molecules within its network of pores. When humidity increases, water molecules adhere to their surfaces and stick between pores until adsorption equilibrium has been reached, at which point heating the material releases any remaining water and returns its original moisture-removing capacity.
Since activated alumina has an exceptionally strong affinity for water, it’s often employed in drying processes requiring moisture removal on an industrial scale. Adsorption using activated alumina is especially successful at managing high humidity levels while performing well even under high-pressure environments.
Activated alumina not only removes moisture from gases, but it can also dry over two dozen different liquids such as acetylene, hydrogen, oxygen, air and nitrogen. Furthermore, activated alumina has the power to absorb impurities like fluoride, arsenic and selenium from liquids – making it useful as an efficient filter for drinking water.
High Adsorption Capacity
Actived Alumina Desiccant’s high adsorption capacity can be attributed to its porous network. Produced by heating aluminum hydroxide or other aluminium compounds to high temperatures and dehydrating them before turning them into Gamma Alumina, creating an inner surface area between 150 to 300 square meters per gram and its ability to be altered depending on application requirements by controlling temperature and duration of activation.
Aluminium oxide surfaces on an alumina material attract and hold water molecules within their pores, making activated desiccant an ideal material for moisture removal applications such as air drying or dehydration of compressed gases. Due to its high absorption capacity, activated desiccant is also often used as air freshener and air purifier.
Activated alumina stands out from silica gel by its rapid and efficient moisture absorption rate and rapid regeneration rates; both features make it a more cost-effective solution in many applications.
Activated alumina comes in both granular and spherical forms, and in various particle sizes. It can be found both industrially, air purification applications, as well as water purification solutions – from the removal of fluoride, arsenic, and selenium from drinking water sources to acting as an adsorbent in natural gas processing; carbon dioxide removal in industrial settings are other benefits associated with activated alumina use.
High Crush Strength
Activated alumina desiccants boast a higher crush strength than silica gel counterparts, making it suitable for many industrial applications. Due to its rugged structure and ability to withstand high pressures without physically degrading or disintegrating, activated alumina may also be used safely as either pre-bed material when supporting larger bed sizes of silica gel desiccant or stand-in desiccants in compressed air systems and dry air storage enclosures.
Regenerating it to restore its adsorption properties after irreversible fouling can also be accomplished quickly and cost-effectively in a standard compressed air dryer. Exposing it to elevated temperatures will induce water molecules that replace bound hydrogen ions to release their grip on them – providing another method of recovery from irreversible fouling.
Active Alumina Desiccants offer many other advantages besides improving product quality. They can serve as catalyst support materials in petrochemical, chemical and oil refining processes to increase catalytic efficiency and stability; act as an efficient adsorbent for fluoride, arsenic and selenium from drinking water sources; as well as remove degradation acids from transformer oils, lubricating oils and refrigerants.
Activated alumina is generally safe and non-toxic material that does not react with other chemicals; however, care must be taken when handling it to avoid inhalation or skin contact. PPE such as safety goggles/face shield, gloves and dust mask/respirator is strongly advised when handling activated alumina.
Low Dew Point
Activated alumina has an extremely low dew point, making it an excellent choice for use in compressed air dryers and liquid drying processes. Furthermore, due to its ability to absorb moisture from various gases and fluids efficiently.
Desiccant materials like activated alumina work to eliminate humidity due to their polar aluminum oxide surfaces and numerous pores on them, drawing moisture molecules towards these channels and binding to them effectively removing their moisture content from the atmosphere. Once activated alumina reaches equilibrium with its environment, however, its ability to absorb moisture becomes diminished; at which point regeneration must take place in order for it to continue functioning effectively.
Activated alumina’s unique adsorption properties make it a good solution for applications where humidity needs to be managed, such as manufacturing environments where too much humidity could lead to corrosion or other issues with equipment and products. Furthermore, its use prevents condensation that would diminish product quality during storage and packaging operations.
Activated alumina is non-toxic and chemically inert, meaning it won’t react with most substances. When handling this product, however, safety protocols and precautions should be observed as ingestion or inhalation in large quantities could prove hazardous; furthermore it should be stored in an environment with adequate ventilation away from materials that might interfere.