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RIO TINTO ALCAN

Arsenic Removal
Activated Alumina Fluoride Removal
About Us
Water Remediation



Activated Alumina and Actiguard Arsenic, Fluoride Removal Systems, Storm Water Runoff, Remediation, Ballast Water, Mine Sites, Phosphate Arsenic Removal and Co-adsorption, Competing Ions and Preconditioning Activated Alumina


For 25 years, activated alumina has been the preferred media for arsenic removal from water. As an industry leader Alcan Specialty Aluminas has developed a new, improved grade ActiGuard AAFS50 with up to three times the capacity of standard activated alumina.

By taking an already successful media and using a patented, proprietary process, Alcan ActiGuard AAFS50 the easiest and proven most cost effective media available.  Tests on systems in the field have yielded results in which arsenic levels of over 1,200 ppb have been reduced to less than 5 ppb.

Historically, regeneration was the accepted method of making activated alumina systems cost- effective. Regeneration however, has some drawbacks, including the handling and storage of chemicals, additional processing steps, and the disposal of regeneration effluent.  Regeneration is not realistically feasible for POU and POE systems.  The greater adsorptive capacity of ActiGuard AAFS50 makes it economical for one-time use and disposal.  Spent material has met the TCLP and California WET Test standards and may be placed in a landfill. The material is a very robust granule and will not break down or deteriorate with use as iron based media. The low pressure drop provides a system requiring less maintenance.  Pre-filtered water will allow the adsorptive system to operate virtually without back washing.  It is effective on both As(III) and As(V), note the capacity for As(III) is sixty five percent of that for As(V) and therefore oxidation is recommended.

Low media cost, coupled with the simple flow through design (EBCT of 5 minutes or less) makes Actiguard AAFS50 the preferred media for arsenic removal in most situations.

Large municipal systems will have to weigh the advantages provided by ActiGuard AAFS50 with the operating cost and economies provided by a regenerated AA400G activated alumina system.

Alcan products are being used in municipal, bottled water, POE, POU units globally. The performance of activated alumina and ActiGuard AAFS50 in any application will depend on the water treated.  The data provided herein is for guideline purposes only.  Users are advised to check the performance of Alcan Products prior to their adoption into any system.

ActiGuard AAFS50 is activated alumina promoted with a proprietary additive. This combination has been engineered for enhanced arsenic removal from water. AAFS50 has shown arsenic capacities of two to three times greater than unpromoted activated alumina.

Arsenic commonly occurs in two forms: As(V) (arsenate) and As(III) (arsenite). Maximum arsenic capacity is achieved when dealing with As(V).

AAFS50’s capacity for As(III) adsorption is about 40% its capacity for As(V). Oxidation is recommended to assist with As(III) removal, when possible. Simple chlorination will oxidize As(III) to As(V) allowing complete removal.

ActiGuard AAFS50 can be effective at a wide range of pH levels depending on the competing ions present. Where high levels of silica are present, along with a pH level higher than 7.0, an adjustment may be necessary for optimum results.
The performance of any adsorbent is dependent on the water being treated. The data provided is for guideline purposes only. Users are advised to check performance prior to their adoption into a system.

Available in granular form in sizes 28 x 48 mesh, with other sizes being supplied on special request.

Packaged in 907 kg (2,000 lb.) super bags, 158 kg (350 lb.), 45 kg (100 lb.), and 22 kg (50 lb.) boxes. Other forms of packaging can be considered on special request.




Arsenic Removal from Water

Large Municipal Treatment Plant

Activated Alumina has long been considered the best technology for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. It is currently used to treat potable water for municipal and household units as well as remediation of waste streams. The adsorptive process is simple requiring a flow rate across the media with a five minute empty bed contact time.

Remediation and municipal fluoride removal systems normally require regeneration to make them cost effective. Regeneration is accomplished by a simple process whereby a dilute caustic solution is used to strip the adsorbed fluoride and other dissolved contaminants off of the surface of the media. The caustic step is followed by rinsing and then the AA is reconditioned with sulfuric acid. As some of the alumina can be dissolved during regeneration it is recommended to plan for periodic media “top-up”.

REMEDIATION PROCESS:

- Step 1: Regenerate with 1% NaOH, Caustic Solution
- Step 2: Rinse with H2O
- Step 3: Neutralize with 0.05 N H2SO4 bringing effluent back to desired working pH level.

The effectiveness of the media to adsorb fluoride is affected by a number of factors:

Influent Fluoride Level: The capacity is bound by basic adsorption theory, the greater the concentration of fluoride, the higher the adsorptive capacity of the media.

pH Level: The pH level also has a large impact on the ability to adsorb F. The optimum operating pH level is from 5.5 to 6.5. Adjustment (and readjustment, if necessary) is easily accomplished with the same solutions as regeneration.

Contact Time: 5 minute Empty Bed Contact Time achieves the best balance of adsorption capacity and capital cost.

Competing Ions: Fluoride is strongly attracted to activated alumina leaving few competing water contaminants. Silica, can reduce the fluoride adsorption capacity, although the silica effect is limited when pH adjustment is employed. Systems where silica levels are higher than 30 ppm may require more frequent and aggressive regeneration.

Preconditioning Activated Alumina: The capacity of the activated alumina is greatly enhanced after conditioning. The first regeneration acts as a conditioning step. Note that the first treatment of non-preconditioned AA will yield a capacity 30% less than subsequent cycles after regeneration.

Non Regenerative Systems: Activated alumina is also employed in some non regenerative applications please contact us for the modified AA which is best suited for your individual application.

Arsenic Co-adsorption: Arsenic levels above the mcl limit are often found alongside fluoride in many waters. The fluoride removal step will also accomplish arsenic removal to acceptable levels in most applications. Should further arsenic removal be needed it would be at a greatly reduced level, while not effecting the total capacity for fluoride.


Fluorograde AA400G Fluoride Removal Media Granular Activated Alumina

Alcan Specialty Aluminas produces alumina based chemicals for many industries, including the water treatment market.  Alcan Alumina products are currently being used world wide for contaminant adsorption for both potable water and remediation applications. Activated alumina based products have a capacity to adsorb many contaminants including arsenic, fluoride, phosphates, zinc, copper, lead chromium and mercury.  Potable water applications include arsenic and fluoride at numerous levels, from domestic units, small public, municipal and bottling facilities.  Remediation applications include arsenic sites, storm water run off, industrial applications including zinc, copper and phosphates. We are a division of Alcan Aluminum a multinational aluminum and packaging company with approximately 65,000 employees and operations in fifty-nine countries.

Alcan's Specialty Aluminas Plant in Brockville, Ontario, Canada began production in 1987 producing Activated Alumina-based products. The plant is located on the Canadian-United States border, with easy access to North America's most economical Port of Montreal, PE for global shipments and quick entry into the United States.

Technology developed at the Alcan Aluminum Research and Development facility uses a unique flash-activation process to produce a unique Activated Alumina of the highest quality. The powder is formed into pellets using a variety of forming processes to produce customer- specific properties. The process also allows for convenient addition of a wide variety of chemical promoters. Alcan Specialty Alumina takes great pride in its ability to provide customized products to meet its customers' specific application requirements.

Modern equipment and control systems facilitate production of engineered and specialty products. Plant design facilitates multiple-product production along with high speed runs for large orders.


Small Muncipal Treatment Plant

Alcan Water Treatment Products are adsorbents which remove contaminants by a combination adsorption and particulate (or physical filtration) for the removal of chemical contaminants from water. Activated Alumina along with its promoted forms are the perfect choice for the adsorption of unwanted minerals, with proven results for arsenic, high levels of fluoride, copper, zinc, lead, silica and phosphates. There is also the potential for chromium, selenium and mercury.

Advantages

  • Easy to Use: Simple adsorption process utilizing five minutes contact time.
  • Regeneration Option: Depending on the contaminant level or other economic factors product may be regenerated on site. Media is topped off with additional media after every ten to twenty regenerations.
  • Easy to Regenerate: Once saturated, the alumina bed can be regenerated by following three simple steps:
    - Neutralization with 1% NaOH
    - Rinse with H2O
    - Reactivation with 0.05 N H2SO4
  • Disposal: Spent media may be non hazardous and landfillable depending on the application. Arsenic and fluoride single pass systems spent media has passed both the TCLP and California WET.

Applications:

- Alumina products have progressed beyond potable water applications needing arsenic and fluoride removal into various other applications.

- Zinc and copper removal from storm water run off at recycling sites and plating company storage yards. It is also being used for protecting our waterways from phosphate contamination found in run off of waters. Mine tailing run off for arsenic, copper and zinc.

- Zinc removal from ballast water protecting harbor environments.

- Arsenic removal in various petroleum applications where crude oil contacts water.


Water Remediation
 

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