Activated alumina is well known for its application in water purification but the material has many other uses. Activated alumina is used in various industries as a desiccant bulk material that is used in drying, purification, and catalysis processes. This article focuses on the uses of activated alumina and goes beyond the common use of this material, which is water purification.
Activated Alumina
Activated alumina is a type of aluminum oxide that has a large surface area due to its porous nature; it is used as an adsorbent and a catalyst. This material is especially useful in filtering out such impurities as fluoride, arsenic, and selenium from water due to its high adsorptive surface. In addition to the above uses, its properties make it suitable for a number of other more advanced uses.
Application
Air drying systems are one of the major applications of activated alumina as a desiccant bulk material. It is essential for protection against moisture that degrades pneumatic instruments and the formation of ice in compressed air systems. Activated alumina is used to remove water vapor from the air to make sure these systems work properly and continuously, which is crucial for industries that require specific conditions of the environment.
Catalytic
Apart from the desiccant function, activated alumina is used as a catalyst in numerous chemical processes. It is especially important in the advertising of the Claus process that is used in oil refineries to convert hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur since sulfur emissions are environmentally hazardous. Furthermore, activated alumina is used in the synthesis of polyethylene where it serves as a carrier for catalysts that are used in important polymerization reactions.
Gas Purification
Activated alumina is widely used in the process of purification of various gases. It is effective in the elimination of contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and trace metals in natural gas and other gasses to prevent corrosion of the downstream equipment and to meet the high quality of the final product. Activated alumina is also useful in high temperature applications because it can operate efficiently in high temperature conditions which are common in many industries.
Comparison
Compared to other desiccants like silica gel or zeolite 3a, activated alumina has a wider chemical resistance and thermal stability that can be used in high temperature applications where other desiccants may be destroyed. Also, activated alumina can be regenerated and used again, which makes it a cheaper option for industries that are looking forward to cutting down their expenses.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the application of activated alumina is not limited to water purification only. It is a very useful desiccant bulk material in air drying, gas purification, and catalytic reactions with a vast use in the health sector. This makes it possible for it to be relevant in many industries and thus the demand for it will always be present in the market. Knowing these various uses, industries can apply the properties of activated alumina to enhance their operations and outcomes.
