Introduction
The basic component of Activated Alumina is aluminium hydroxide. The high-capacity desiccant is manufactured by dehydroxylating aluminium hydroxide. At the end of the dehydroxylating process, we get a hard and durable material, which can be converted into any shape of our choice. The most commonly used shapes is balls and activated alumina balls serve as desiccants for water treatment and purification of natural gases and liquids. Activated Alumina is also manufactured in the form of beads and different cylindrical shapes.
Salient Features of Activated Alumina
Activated Alumina has many features, which make it a highly in-demand moisture absorber. Some of these features are discussed below:
1) Non-reactive to water: A major benefit of using Active Alumina is that it does not react while coming in contact with water. There are no physical changes like shrinking, swelling or disintegration when the Activated Alumina balls/beads are placed in water. The high-capacity desiccant also does not offer any reaction to water slugging.
2) Same-sized Activated Alumina beads: Another advantage of using Activated Alumina beads is that they are uniformly sized. This feature helps in keeping the pressure afloat and the complete use of the bed column section.
3) Lesser disintegration: Activated Alumina has lower disintegration/depreciation qualities, which produces lesser dust during depressurization/loading. This also reduces the chances of plugging the after-filter.
Use of Activated Alumina in Purifying Natural Gases and Liquids
Activated Alumina has two main uses- water treatment and purification and drying of natural gases and liquids. Today we will explain in detail about how Activated Alumina finds the use of petroleum and natural gas industries.
The Activated Alumina used for this purpose must have a surface area of 345-415 m2/g as this offers the highest water capacity. This Alumina is also used for thermal swing adsorption, oil filtration and drying of gases and liquids.
In the petroleum industry, the main use of Activated Alumina is for the drying of organic liquids like Liquid Petroleum Gas or LPG, aromatic solvents, steam cracked liquids, gasolines, cholera and fluorocarbons. It is also used as an air drying desiccant, which is removing any traces of moisture from the gases. Gases like catalytic reforming recycle gas, synthesis gas, methyl chloride are also purified using Activated Alumina.
Activated Alumina ball suppliers also provide the desiccant for the cleaning up of liquids. This consists of removal of metallic parts, BF3, TBC, HCI, HF and fluorinated hydrocarbons. Companies make use of Activated Alumina desiccant to gas dry air separation plants and gases like hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
