Producing alumina granules in a fluidized bed

摘要

The process of the present invention for preparing granules of alumina includes pretreating an alumina powder by admixing with cold water in a mixer at a temperture below room temperature, e.g., such as below about 20 DEG C., to form a pretreated alumina having a pore volume saturated with water and further having a surface area of gel structure, and agglomerating the pretreated alumina in a fluidized bed to form granules. The process is particularly suite to producing activated alumina in macroporous granules. The process in one aspect further includes a cold hopper for cooling alumina powder prior to the pretreating step.