An Eco-friendly Process to Produce High-Purity Nano-γ-Al2O3 from Aluminum Scrap Using a Novel Electrolysis Technique for Petroleum Industry Applications.

Petroleum refineries widely use γ-Al2O3 in multiphase reactors as a catalyst support material. The techniques used to synthesize this support are usually expensive and complicated. In the present study, high-purity nano-γ-Al2O3 was produced from aluminum waste (scrap) for the first time, using a novel eco-friendly electrolysis method. A special electrical cell consisting of two aluminum electrodes was designed and manufactured for this electrolysis process. The electrochemical reactions in the cell were managed by an efficient control system. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the structure of the prepared nano-γ-Al2O3 was highly crystalline with high purity. The total surface area and pore size of the synthesized nano-γ-Al2O3 were 219 m2/g and 0.316 cm2/g, respectively. The prepared nano-alumina in this work can be used successfully as a catalyst support for petroleum industry applications. Additionally, the electrolysis method is characterized by high economic feasibility with a production rate of 91.7% and the yield of produced nano-γ-Al2O3 was (0.053 g/cm h). Finally, this method is regarded as highly flexible, simple, and eco-friendly synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]