ALCAN SPECIALTY ALUMINA

About Us

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.

Arsenic Removal

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.

Fluoride Removal

AA400G is a granular activated alumina designed for removal of fluoride for potable water situations. It is available in several sizes; although tests show 14 X 28 mesh size is the most suitable for regeneration systems. Fluoride may be found in unacceptable levels (usually above 1.5 ppm) in both naturally occurring water and often in those treated with lime. Activated alumina is the long accepted media of choice for the adsorption of fluoride at the levels normally present. The AA400G is a superior product with good adsorptive capacity and long life.

a. Easy to use: the feed solution is simply pumped through the bed (5 minutes empty bed contact time), to yield an effluent containing less than 1 ppm fluoride.
b. Highly Absorbent: AA400G in lab conditions with high fluoride concentrations can adsorb as much as 1.4 g of fluoride for 100 g of media. Capacity is limited by conditions including competing ions and pH influences. Under the ideal conditions noted a 10 kg unit will keep a stream containing 8 ppm F with a 120 l/h flow rate virtually free of F for six days without fear of break-through.
c. Easy to regenerate: once saturated, the alumina bed can be regenerated by following three simple steps.  It is first neutralized with 1% NaOH.  Then it’s rinsed with treated water.  The final step is reactivation with a 0.05% N H2SO4 solution.
d. Arsenic: Arsenic concentrations, in most applications will also be lowered to acceptable levels.
e. Economical: Because of its high adsorption capacity, an extended run life provides operational cost savings.

Alcan products are being used in large municipal water plants in the U.S., hand pump and domestic units in Asia for fluoride removal.

Water Remediation

Alcan Specialty Alumina Products including AA400G and AAFS50 have been found successful in a number of remediation applications.  AAFS50 is being used for arsenic remediation at two EPA clean up sites, copper, zinc and phosphate remediation at various storm water run off applications.

Alcan’s activated alumina products have a natural affinity to adsorb many contaminants through both ion exchange and polar functions.  The activated alumina alone may provide the desired results or it may be enhanced to improve performance.