Separation of Aluminum from Liquid Media

Aluminum is commonly found as the cation, Al3+. Aluminum's light weight and strength makes it ideal for a wide variety of applications in modern society. Aluminum can form oxides that are weakly anionic and difficult to remove with ion exchange resins.

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    Al

    Aluminium

Water/Wastewater

 

Aluminum can be successfully removed from slightly acidic water-based streams with a strong acid cation exchanger like AmberSep™ G26 H Resin.

If the aqueous stream has a pH from 3 to 6, a weak acid cation resin such as AmberLite™ IRC83 H Resin should be considered due to the higher ion exchange capacity and economical regeneration.

Aluminum can be selectively removed from brine streams with a selective resin like the iminodiacetic-functionalized AmberSep™ IRC748 UPS Chelating Resin or the aminophosphonic-functionalized AmberSep™ IRC747 UPS Chelating Resin. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Anodizing Baths and Rinse Water

 

Processing of aluminum by bright dipping with phosphoric acid or by anodizing with sulfuric acid and other acid solutions results in the accumulation of unwanted aluminum in these streams. A strong acid cation exchange resin like AmberSep™ G26 H Resin can be used for continuous removal of the aluminum. Capacities of 1 to 3 lb of aluminum per cubic foot of resin are common.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Organic Media

 

Aluminum Lewis Acids (i.e., aluminum halides) can be removed from organic solutions using weakly basic anion exchange resins such as AmberLyst™ A21 Resin.