Extraction and characterization of activated-alumina nanopowder from hazardous dross waste for catalytic applications

Industrial wastes currently present a variety of disposal and environmental issues due to their bulk volume, toxicity or physical nature. If an appropriate approach could be found to use these wastes, it will provide a three-fold advantage to both environment and industries. Firstly, the volume of wastes and consequently corresponding disposal cost could be partly diminished, secondly the pollution of environment can be lowered, and thirdly if possible, fabrication and development of advanced materials from these wastes at rational cost can result in the conservation of natural sources and attaining economic benefits. Within the scope of the present work, synthesis and characterization of activated-alumina nanopowder from a hazardous industrial waste using an innovative process are demonstrated. Characterization results showed that the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area was 158 m2/g. Average pore diameter and pore volume of the as-synthesized activated alumina using Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) analysis were 5.27 nm and 0.3673 cm3/g, respectively. Chemical composition determination by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) indicated that as-synthesized activated alumina exhibits a purity of more than 97 wt%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern possessed characteristic peaks related to gamma phase of alumina. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) confirmed the nano-sized morphology of the as-synthesized activated-alumina.

Activated alumina, Dross, Industrial waste, Catalyst, Extraction