Activated Alumina Impregnated

Promoter Loading for Trace Contaminant Capture

SorbiTech Activated Alumina Impregnated is a family of promoter loaded alumina spheres for the trace contaminants that physical adsorption cannot retain at the required outlet. SorbiTech impregnates the base alumina with a chemical promoter selected for the target species, then dries and packages the product against a single use service life.

Unlike the regenerable drying grade, the impregnated alumina is consumed as it reacts with the contaminant. Service life is therefore measured by the stoichiometric loading capacity per unit bed volume, which SorbiTech reports per grade against the standard reference contaminant.

Standard Impregnations

• Sodium hydroxide promoted: hydrogen chloride and trace acid gas guard upstream of catalytic reformers and isomerisation units
• Sodium carbonate promoted: chloride and trace sulphur removal in hydrogen and recycle gas streams
• Claus tail gas grade: hydrogen sulphide and carbonyl sulphide conversion in sulphur recovery units
• Potassium iodide promoted: mercury removal from natural gas and recovered hydrocarbon
• Custom blends: specified by the operator against the host catalyst protection requirement

Service Life and Replacement Planning

The bed is sized for the contracted campaign length, typically 12 to 36 months, with margin to absorb a feedstock upset. SorbiTech tracks the breakthrough monitoring schedule and schedules a SorbiTech replacement charge against the operator turnaround window, so the host catalyst protection is maintained without unscheduled outage.

Spent impregnated alumina is classified as hazardous waste in most jurisdictions because of the captured sulphur, chloride, or mercury. The SorbiTech service team handles the unloading under nitrogen, the certification for transport, and the licensed disposal route.

Where the Grade Fits

The impregnated alumina sits at the inlet of a catalytic unit, downstream of the main dryer, and removes the trace contaminants that would poison the catalyst. A typical hydrotreater or reformer is protected by a layered guard bed of regenerable drying alumina followed by the impregnated grade, all charged into the same vessel and supplied as one SorbiTech package.

Forms and Supply

Supplied as 3 to 5 mm or 1.6 to 3.2 mm spheres by SorbiTech to the operator specification, with the promoter loading and the breakthrough capacity documented per batch. Available as a standalone media charge or inside a SorbiTech guard bed vessel. For bulk supply and grade selection, visit medaad.com. SorbiTech specifies impregnated alumina grades for catalyst guard duty in the petrochemicals and refining sector; see the gas treatment applications and the parent activated alumina family.