Production of Aluminum Oxide by Sulfuric Acid Process
Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is an important inorganic chemical compound widely used in many industries, such as foundry, refractory, abrasives, ceramics, catalysts, coatings, paints, polishing and printing inks. One of the industrial method for the production of Aluminum oxide is the sulfuric acid process, which has been used for decades and has the potential for producing large quantities of high quality aluminum oxide.
The sulfuric acid process involves the treatment of Aluminum Hydroxide with sulfuric acid to form Aluminum sulfate, (Al2(SO4)3) and water. The aluminum sulfate then reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce high purity aluminum oxide as a result of crystallization. The reaction can be represented by the following reaction equation:
2Al(OH)3 + 3H2SO4 -> Al2(SO4)3 + 6H2O
Al2(SO4)3 + 2NaOH -> 2NaAl(OH)4 + 3H2SO4
2NaAl(OH)4 -> Al2O3 + 2NaOH + 2H2O
The sulfuric acid process has higher product purity than other manufacturing processes, with the resulting aluminum oxide being 99.99% pure. It is also able to accept impure reactants, allowing for impurities such as iron, carbon and silica to be removed before the product is obtained.
To produce aluminum oxide using the sulfuric acid process, the first step is to mix Aluminum hydroxide, sulfuric acid and water in a stirred tank. The Aluminum hydroxide serves to supply aluminum ions which react with sulfuric acid in the presence of water to form aluminum sulfate. In the second step, sodium hydroxide is added to the solution to precipitate the aluminum oxide. In order to obtain high quality aluminum oxide, the solution is cooled and then filtered to remove any impurities prior to crystallization, resulting in a nearly colorless and odorless aluminum oxide powder.
The sulfuric acid process has a number of advantages over other aluminum oxide production methods. It is a relatively easy process with a high yield of pure aluminum oxide. The reactants are also non-toxic, thus making the process environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the final product can be easily refined and the process can produce a variety of different grades of aluminum oxide.
In conclusion, the sulfuric acid process is an excellent choice for producing large quantities of high purity aluminum oxide. It is cost effective, efficient and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, it is capable of accepting impure reactants, resulting in practically colorless and odourless aluminium oxide.
