The Aluminas

Surface heterogeneity may be inferred from emission studies such as those studies by de Schrijver and co-workers on P and on R adsorbed on clay minerals [197,198]. In the case of adsorbed pyrene and its derivatives, there is considerable evidence for surface mobility (on clays, metal oxides, sulfides), as from the work of Thomas [199], de Mayo and co-workers [200], Singer [201] and Stahlberg et al. [202]. There has also been evidence for ground-state bimolecular association of adsorbed pyrene [66,203]. The sensitivity of pyrene to the polarity of its environment allows its use as a probe of surface polarity [204,205]. Pyrene or ofter emitters may be used as probes to study the structure of an adsorbate film, as in the case of Triton X-100 on silica [206], sodium dodecyl sulfate at the alumina surface [207] and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride adsorbed onto silver electrodes from water and dimethylformamide [208]. In all cases progressive structural changes were concluded to occur with increasing surfactant adsorption. 

The process of chromatographic separation is illustrated in the following experiment, in which a wider tube than usual is employed to give a reasonably rapid separation within the time normally available to students. The alumina employed is the usual active alumina as supplied by dealers. 

Mix 100 g. of active alumina with dry benzene until a suspension or slurry of suitable consistency is obtained, and pour this carefully into the tube. Clamp a dropping-funnel just above the top of the tube and Fig 2 benzene to run slowly down as the alumina... 

Cholestenone. Place a mixture of 1 0 g. of purified cholesterol and 0-2 g. of cupric oxide in a test-tube clamped securely at the top, add a fragment of Dry Ice in order to displace the air by carbon dioxide, and insert a plug of cotton wool in the mouth of the tube. Heat in a metal bath at 300-315° for 15 minutes and allow to cool rotate the test-tube occasionally in order to spread the melt on the sides. Warm with a few ml. of benzene and pour the black suspension directly into the top of a previously prepared chromatographic column (1) rinse the test-tube with a little more benzene and pour the rinsings into the column. With the aid of shght suction (> 3-4 cm. of mercury), draw the solution into the alumina column stir the top 0 -5 cm. or so with a stout copper wire to... 

The first was from a CA article [81]. Various alkenes, styrene and cycloalkenes were tried. But a more followable method is the following [82]. The supported salt of NaNs-AljOs was made by mixing the NaNs with the alumina in water then evaporating the mixture under vacuum in a water bath until dry ... 

In 1990, appioximately 66,000 metric tons of alumina trihydiate [12252-70-9] AI2O2 3H20, the most widely used flame retardant, was used to inhibit the flammabihty of plastics processed at low temperatures. Alumina trihydrate is manufactured from either bauxite ore or recovered aluminum by either the Bayer or sinter processes (25). In the Bayer process, the bauxite ore is digested in a caustic solution, then filtered to remove siUcate, titanate, and iron impurities. The alumina trihydrate is recovered from the filtered solution by precipitation. In the sinter process the aluminum is leached from the ore using a solution of soda and lime from which pure alumina trihydrate is recovered (see Aluminum compounds). 

In the flame phase the water vapor forms an envelope around the flame, which tends to exclude air and dilute the flammable gases. The water vapor reacts endothermically with the flame radicals. The alumina residue becomes a conduit through which heat is conveyed away from the flame area, slowing down polymer decomposition. 

Recovery from Bayer Liquor. The significant amount of primary gallium is recovered from the alumina industry. The main source is the sodium aluminate Hquor from Bayer-process plants that produce large quantities of alumina. Several methods have been developed to recover gallium from Bayer Hquor. 

The alumina or sodium alurninosiHcate catalysts used to regenerate degraded working solutions lose activity with time as active soda sites are neutralized, but these too can be regenerated. 

The zinc oxide component of the catalyst serves to maintain the activity and surface area of the copper sites, and additionally helps to reduce light ends by-product formation. Selectivity is better than 99%, with typical impurities being ethers, esters, aldehydes, ketones, higher alcohols, and waxes. The alumina portion of the catalyst primarily serves as a support. 

No cryolite is actually needed once the smelting process is in operation because cryolite is produced in the reduction cells by neutralizing the Na20 brought into the cell as an impurity in the alumina using aluminum fluoride. 

Thus operating cells need aluminum fluoride [7784-18-17, AIF., rather than cryoHte. Much aluminum fluoride is produced in a fluidized bed by the reaction of hydrofluoric acid gas and activated alumina made by partially calcining the alumina hydrate from the Bayer process... 

Molten aluminum is removed from the cells by siphoning, generally daily, into a cmcible. Normally the metal is 99.6—99.9% pure. The principal impurities are Ee, Si, Ti, V, and Mn, and come largely from the anode, but also from the alumina. 

The hot (400—500°C) inlet gases warm the alumina particles and the mildly exothermic reaction serves to maintain the heat of the furnace between 500 and 600°C. The alumina particle size is critical for maintaining a good reaction rate and a fluidized bed. 

Alumina—graphite refractories, almost all continuous casting ware, have come into much greater use as continuous casting has spread in steelmaking. These refractories are used in shrouds that conduct the molten metal from the ladle to the tundish, in the subentry tubes that take the metal from the tundish to the mold, in isostatically pressed stopper rods, and in shroud tubes for slab and bloom casters. The alumina—graphite compositions are used in these products because of the thermal-shock resistance and corrosion resistance they impart to the product. 

Most catalyst supports are simply nearly inert platforms that help stabilize the dispersion of the catalyticaHy active phase. Sometimes, however, the supports play a direct catalytic role, as exemplified by the alumina used in supported Pt and RePt catalysts for naphtha reforming. 

Support-phase changes or loss of surface area are, of course, irreversible, and replacement of the catalyst may be appropriate. Catalyst damage may take the form of phase changes to the alumina support from gamma to theta or alpha phase. The last is catalyticaky inert because of insignificant surface area. Theta alumina has a low surface area (< 100 /g) relative to gamma alumina (180 m /g) and has poor halogen retention. 

Other reactions taking place throughout the hardening period are substitution and addition reactions (29). Ferrite and sulfoferrite analogues of calcium monosulfoaluminate and ettringite form soHd solutions in which iron oxide substitutes continuously for the alumina. Reactions with the calcium sihcate hydrate result in the formation of additional substituted C—S—H gel at the expense of the crystalline aluminate, sulfate, and ferrite hydrate phases. 

The tendency for high surface area gamma-alumina to siater and lose that cmcial area duriag high temperature operatioa is retarded by the intimate additioa of several perceat of cerium oxide. The mechanism is stiU under debate but may iavolve a surface LN—aluminate species on the alumina. 

FD C lakes were first approved for use ia 1959. Today, they are the most widely used type of lake. To make a lake, an alumina substrate is first prepared by adding sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide to a solution of aluminum sulfate. Next, a solution of certified colorant is added to the resulting slurry, then aluminum chloride is added to convert the colorant to an aluminum salt, which then adsorbs onto the surface of the alumina. The slurry is then filtered, and the cake is washed, dried, and ground to an appropriate fineness, typically 0.1—4.0 p.m. 

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