Activated Alumina Balls (Beads) for Air, Gas & Water Treatment

Activated Alumina Balls Uses

• Industry - Compressed Air System OEMs

  Scenario: An OEM integrates our 3-5mm activated alumina beads into their regenerative desiccant air dryers.

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Achieves consistent -40°C pressure dew point, protecting downstream pneumatic tools and controls.
  2. Low attrition rate of <0.1% minimizes downstream filter clogging, reducing customer maintenance calls.
  3. Stable regeneration performance over 3-5 years reduces the total cost of ownership for the end-user.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  A German air dryer manufacturer was experiencing a 5% field failure rate due to desiccant dusting from a previous supplier. By switching to our high crush strength (140N) beads, they eliminated dusting-related warranty claims and improved their equipment's market reputation for reliability.

• New Energy -Natural Gas Processing Plants

  Scenario: A natural gas plant uses our 4-6mm activated alumina in a dehydration unit to prevent hydrate formation in cryogenic pipelines.

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. High water adsorption capacity (≥17%) effectively reduces water content to below 1 ppmv.
  2. Superior resistance to hydrothermal aging ensures long-term performance in demanding process conditions.
  3. Customizable bead size allows for optimization of pressure drop and mass transfer efficiency in the contactor towers.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  A Canadian gas processing facility needed to increase the throughput of their dehydration unit without a major capital investment. Our engineers recommended a custom 5mm bead, which lowered the pressure drop across the bed by 15% and allowed for a 10% increase in gas flow, directly boosting plant output.

• Environmental-Municipal Water Treatment Facilities

  Scenario: A municipal water authority employs our granular activated alumina in a packed-bed system for fluoride removal from drinking water.

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. High fluoride removal capacity, consistently reducing concentrations from 10 ppm to below the 1.5 ppm WHO guideline.
  2. Material basis for NSF/ANSI 61 certification ensures safety for potable water applications.
  3. Can be regenerated on-site using a simple caustic and acid wash, lowering operational costs.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  A U.S. municipality was struggling with short media life and high replacement costs for their fluoride treatment system. Our activated alumina, with its higher adsorption capacity and robust regeneration capability, extended the media service life from 9 months to over 24 months, resulting in a 60% reduction in annual media expenditure.

Activated Alumina Balls Usage Instructions

•  Pre-Installation

  1. Vessel Inspection: Before loading new activated alumina, completely empty the vessel of the old media. Inspect the vessel's interior for any signs of corrosion, damage, or oil contamination.
  2. Thorough Cleaning: Clean the vessel to remove all residual dust, debris, and oil film. A clean vessel prevents contamination of the new activated alumina bed.
  3. Support Screen & Internals Check: Inspect the support screens and any internal distributors. Ensure they are structurally sound, correctly positioned, and free of blockages. Damaged screens can lead to media loss and system failure.

• Installation

  1. Loading Method: Load the beads slowly and carefully to minimize the drop height. This prevents bead breakage and the creation of dust. Using a chute, sock, or a loading hopper is recommended over direct dumping.
  2. Bed Support: It is a best practice to install a layer of inert ceramic balls (typically 1/2" to 1" diameter) at the bottom of the vessel. This support layer helps to distribute the gas flow evenly and prevents the smaller activated alumina beads from passing through the support screen.
  3. Preventing Channeling: As you load the beads, ensure they are distributed evenly across the vessel's cross-section. Avoid forming a central cone, as this can lead to "gas channeling," where gas bypasses parts of the bed, significantly reducing drying efficiency.
  4. Top Layer: After loading the activated alumina, place another layer of inert ceramic balls on top of the bed. This top layer prevents the bed from being disturbed or fluidized by high-velocity gas surges.

• Use & Commissioning

  1. Pre-Activation (Recommended): Although the beads are shipped in a dry, activated state, they may adsorb some ambient moisture during loading. To ensure maximum performance from the start, perform an initial regeneration cycle.
  2. Commissioning Cycle: Heat the bed by passing a flow of dry gas (like nitrogen or dried process gas) through it. Gradually raise the temperature to 180-200°C (356-392°F) and hold for 4-6 hours. Afterwards, cool the bed down to the normal operating temperature before introducing the main process stream.

• Storage & Handling

  1. Unopened Packaging: Store unopened bags or drums in a clean, dry, indoor environment. Keep them away from direct sunlight, high humidity, and volatile chemicals to maintain the product's integrity.
  2. Opened Packaging: Once a bag or drum is opened, the activated alumina will immediately begin to adsorb moisture from the air. If you do not use the entire container, reseal it as tightly as possible. Using a vacuum sealer or adding a desiccant packet to the resealed container is a good practice.
  3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): While activated alumina is non-toxic, the dust can be a mild respiratory and eye irritant. Always wear appropriate PPE, including safety glasses and an N95 dust mask, during handling and loading operations.

• Operational Precautions & Troubleshooting

  1. Liquid Water Contact: Avoid direct contact with liquid water. If liquid water enters the vessel, it can cause a rapid release of heat (exothermic reaction) that can generate steam and cause the beads to fracture. Install an efficient upstream knockout drum or coalescing filter to remove any liquid droplets from the gas stream.
  2. Contamination: Protect the bed from contaminants like compressor oils, glycols, and heavy hydrocarbons. These substances can coat the surface of the activated alumina, blocking its pores and reducing its ability to adsorb water.
  3. Monitoring Performance: Regularly monitor the dew point of the outlet gas. A gradual increase in the post-regeneration dew point is an indicator that the bed is losing capacity and may be nearing the end of its service life.
  4. Addressing High Pressure Drop: A sudden increase in pressure drop across the bed can indicate dusting (due to bead breakage), bed compaction, or contamination. Investigate the cause promptly to prevent further issues.

Activated Ceramic Alumina Ball FAQ

1. Q: How long do activated alumina beads last?
   A: In a properly designed and operated regenerative dryer, activated alumina can last 3 to 5 years. Service life is affected by factors like operating cycles, contaminant levels in the gas stream, and regeneration temperature.
2. Q: Can activated alumina remove oil aerosols from compressed air?
   A: Activated alumina has a limited capacity for oil adsorption. It is primarily a desiccant. For effective oil removal, a dedicated coalescing filter should be installed upstream of the activated alumina bed.
3. Q: Does the size of the activated alumina ball matter?
   A: Yes. Smaller beads (e.g., 3mm) offer a higher surface area and better mass transfer but create a higher pressure drop. Larger beads (e.g., 5mm) have a lower pressure drop but may have slightly lower dynamic adsorption efficiency. The optimal size is a balance determined by your system's design.
4. Q: What is the manufacturing process of activated alumina balls?
   A: Activated alumina balls are produced by calcining aluminum hydroxide under controlled temperature, forming porous alumina with high surface area. The powder is then granulated into beads, sintered for strength, and screened into uniform sizes.
5. Q: What are activated alumina balls price?
   A: Activated alumina balls price varies by bead size, grade, and order volume. Standard stock beads are quoted per kilogram or ton, while custom specifications and drinking-water grades may carry a higher unit cost. We also offer competitive wholesale prices and reduced average cost. Get a quote today!
6. Q: How can I find a reliable activated alumina balls manufacturer?
   A: ADCERAX is an experienced activated alumina balls manufacturer in China with over 20 years of expertise. We supply and wholesale activated alumina balls in a wide range of sizes and grades, ensuring high quality and technical support for air drying, gas dehydration, and water treatment applications.
7. Q: What are the benefits of activated alumina ball carriers?
   A: Activated alumina ball carriers provide high surface area for uniform catalyst dispersion, mechanical strength to resist crushing in high-pressure reactors, and thermal stability to endure repeated heating cycles without degradation.

What our Clients Say about Activated Alumina Beads Ball

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  We replaced the desiccant in our natural gas dehydration towers with their 5mm activated alumina. The product's low attrition rate was immediately noticeable during loading. After 12 months of operation, performance remains stable, and we've seen a 5% reduction in regeneration energy consumption.
  -- John Mueller, Lead Process Engineer, PetroChem Solutions Inc. 

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  Adcerax's engineering team assisted us in selecting the best activated alumina bead for our new line of high-efficiency compressed air dryers. The custom 3.5mm bead provides the performance we need,
  -- Sarah Chen, OEM Product Manager, Precision Air Systems GmbH
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  We use Adcerax supplied activated alumina for our town's fluoride removal system. The media has proven effective and durable, lasting significantly longer than our previous supplier's product. The technical support for optimizing our regeneration process was invaluable.
  -- David Rodriguez, Plant Operator, Clear Water Municipal Authority
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  We bought a small batch of their 1-2mm activated alumina for a pilot-scale catalysis project. The material was uniform and met all specifications. Their willingness to supply a small, custom quantity was critical for our research budget and timeline.
  -- Emily White, Lab Manager, Advanced Materials Research LLC