Thursday 8 January 2015

The Importance of Gas Drying Activated Alumina

The presence of water vapour and other toxic gases is known to cause adverse effects and severe contamination in more ways than one. Some of the most common industries where this is more applicable are in industrial gas drying and air conditioning.

Activated alumina is one of the most preferred minerals for this purpose. Its properties of removing gas and moisture are well established. This is especially true in the case of gases that have been compressed and other gases that have a high relative humidity. 

The Main Reasons for Choosing Activated Alumina for Drying Purposes

Activated Alumina Balls

One of the important reasons for the use of activated alumina is its low cost and its affinity to absorb gases and moisture or water vapour. The other factor is the fact that it does not interact with the substances that it comes in contact with. It remains unchanged in its chemical composition and can be reused multiple times by regenerating it to the required heat which can be between 200*C and 300*C. Importantly, the size of its pores is large and it has the potential of absorbing a large amount of gases and unwanted materials present in the atmosphere.

Sometimes, there are high gas pressures involved that need to be suitably dried. Activated alumina balls are known to withstand these pressures. Besides, it supports the need for regular regeneration and can be obtained in different combinations. 

The Sources of Obtaining Activated Alumina

Aluminium is a mineral that is obtained from its raw physical ore form that is bauxite. When treated or chemically combined with soda, it gets converted into aluminates of sodium. After the process of washing and separation, some impurities are removed that may include iron oxide and silica.

The remaining residue is activated by a process of calcinations that can involve the induction of temperatures between the ranges of 400*C to 600*C.  It is the water evaporation and the resulting decomposition that finally produces the activated carbon.