The_Catalyst_Review_January_2024 - 3

Industry Perspective
The views expressed are those of the individual author and may not reflect those of The Catalyst Review or TCGR.
The Pseudoboehmite Alumina Advantage
Revolutionizing Catalyst Support
By Mayur Jadhav
Pseudoboehmite is a white, non-toxic, fine, crystalline aluminum oxide powder, with specific
features such as uniform pore size distribution, surface area, and high purity that make it
useful for various industrial applications. It is an intermediate phase in the production of
aluminum oxide and can be further processed to create other forms of aluminum oxide
with different properties.
Pseudoboehmite can be transformed to γ-alumina on simple calcination around 500 °C and
can be used as a highly stable catalyst support material. It is produced through controlled
acid-base precipitation from aluminum salts, typically aluminum sulfate or aluminum chloride.
Matrix Global Specialty (MGS) uses ores of aluminum oxide including bauxite, gibbsite, and
boehmite to produce its pseudoboehmite.
Pseudoboehmite alumina is a popular economical catalyst support. Its higher surface area
and smaller particle size make it an effective precursor in producing fluid cracking, hydrotreating,
hydro-desulphurization catalysts, etc.
Overall advantages include the following:
* Pore volume and surface area can be adjusted on calcination. It can be easily
transformed into other important alumina phases like gamma, theta, and alpha on
simple calcination.
* Combination of high surface area and porosity is good for high adsorption capacity,
doping of other metals, purification, and separation processes.
* Self-binding powder - can be easily converted into pellets and beads.
* Excellent hydrothermal stability - more stable towards sintering, longer life cycle.
* Less compression is required while using this material, resulting in significant cost
savings in CAPEX and OPEX.
* On reaction with acid, strong peptide bonds and gels are formed.
Advantages as a Catalyst Support Material
1. High Surface Area. Pseudoboehmite alumina offers a high surface area, which is essential
for supporting active catalytic sites. This increased surface area provides ample space
for reactant molecules to interact with the catalyst, promoting more efficient reactions.
2. Tunable Pore Structure: By controlling the synthesis parameters, the pore structure
of pseudoboehmite alumina can be tailored to specific requirements. The ability to
adjust pore size and distribution is crucial for accommodating different sizes of catalytic
nanoparticles and controlling diffusion limitations.
3. Thermal Stability. Pseudoboehmite alumina can be transformed into γ-alumina through
calcination, a process that enhances its thermal stability. This stability is crucial for
maintaining the structural integrity of the catalyst during high-temperature catalytic
reactions.
4. Chemical Inertness. The inert nature of alumina prevents undesirable interactions
between the support material and both the catalytic active phase and the reactants.
This ensures the catalytic activity and selectivity remain unaltered over time.
5. Acid-Base Properties. Pseudoboehmite alumina exhibits tunable acid-base properties,
which are valuable for catalyzing reactions that involve acid-base interactions. These
properties can influence reaction pathways and product distributions.
Continued on page 15
The Catalyst Review
January 2024
3
The ability to adjust pore size
and distribution is crucial for
accommodating different
sizes of catalytic
nanoparticles and controlling
diffusion limitations.
Matrix Global Speciality Pvt Ltd is the
newest addition to the publicly listed
group of companies with a market
capitalization of nearly US$2 billion and
revenue over US$100 million per year.
The company's expertise in the Catalysis
/ Alumina support business is established
in the last two decades.
The company has now set up a greenfield,
fully automated project in Aurangabad,
Maharashtra, as part of its expansion
for specialty chemicals/alumina for use
in the chemical process industry.
Being responsible for the environment,
Matrix has introduced advanced
technologies and equipment to improve
the efficiency of its wastewater systems.
Apart from this the company also adheres
to the existing pollution control norms
concerning air, noise, and solid waste,
while following the practice of the zero
liquid discharge approach.
A zero liquid discharge approach
encompasses the following:
* Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) aims to
recover and reuse all water used in
the process, minimizing liquid effluent
discharge.
* ZLD utilizes advanced technologies
like evaporation, crystallization,
and membrane filtration to treat
wastewater, extract
valuable
resources, and maximize water
recovery.
* Implementation of ZLD reduces
water
consumption, minimizes
environmental impact, and can result
in significant cost savings for alumina
production facilities.

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