Activated alumina is a form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) with a myriad of industrial uses. Activated alumina exhibits a number of characteristics that make it ideal in many industrial process settings. This includes a high crush strength, resistance to thermal shock, resistance to chemical attack, and more. The characteristic that has pushed activated alumina to the forefront of many applications is its capability as an adsorbent, courtesy of its high porosity and surface area.
Activated alumina is manufactured by dehydroxylating aluminium hydroxide in a way that produces a highly porous substance. The chemical composition can be represented by Al2O3•OH2.The term "activated aluminas" refers to the “activation” those results from calcination.
Activated alumina is a high-surface-area, highly porous form of aluminium oxide. It can absorb gases and liquids without changing its form. It works as a desiccant through adsorption and other impurities such as in water or other product; it gives clean water due to ability to attract impurities.
Generally, activated alumina behaves in much way like activated coal, which is a familiar adsorbent. The adsorption process depends on the force field that exists at the surface of a solid. Activated alumina possesses several uniqueness such as high adsorption capacity, high surface area, wide spectrum of functional group and variety of porosity sizes which made it suitable to be applied for the treatment of wastewater treatment plant effluent throughout the world.
Much like activated carbon, the high surface area and porosity exhibited by activated alumina allows it to capture and hold on to various types of materials, lending it to be employed as an adsorbent, desiccant, and more. The primary ways in which activated alumina products are used include:
· Adsorbents
· Desiccant
· Catalysts
Uses
To remove fluoride from hydrocarbons in HF alkylation. Low levels of hydrofluoric acid are filtered through alumina beads. For sulfur removal from gas streams (Claus catalyst process). Activated alumina converts hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur under proper conditions. This technology is used extensively in the oil refining industry. As a filtration media in polyethylene production. In this process, the slurry co-catalyst is filtered out of the polyethylene and trapped in the pores of the alumina bead.
The activated alumina market size was 146.2 million in 2020 and will grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2021 to 2027. The proliferating oil & gas production coupled with increasing oil & gas exploration activities across the globe will augment the product demand.
The market is majorly driven by factors, such as rising demand for clean water, shrinking water reserves, and implementation of new water treatment facilities. Activated alumina is formed by dihydroxylation of aluminum hydroxide to produce highly porous material. It is used in various applications including catalyst, desiccant, fluoride adsorbent, bioceramics, and others
Increasing population coupled with rapid economic growth is expected to boost the market growth in Asia Pacific. Government initiatives, such as the launch of various projects for the regular supply and treatment of water, are likely to propel the product demand over the forecast period. Product usage in the purification of lithium is gaining popularity. Lithium finds use in ceramics, glass, batteries, lubricating greases, and air treatment applications.
Key Players
· Acuro Organics Ltd.
· Jyoti Ceramic Inds. Pvt. Ltd.
· Synco Industries Ltd.
