The viability and cost-effectiveness of the two alumina precipitation routes depend on factors such as reagent quality and costs, availability, reaction efficiency, and byproducts.

​Comparison of the Routes: 

Route 1: Sodium aluminate + Aluminium sulfate + Water

Reaction: NaAlO2+Al2(SO4)3+H2O→Al(OH)3↓+Na2SO4 

Viability for Catalyst Carriers: 

Sodium aluminate is commonly produced from bauxite and is widely available. 

Aluminium sulfate is inexpensive and widely used in water treatment. 

Sodium sulfate byproduct is relatively harmless and can be used in industrial applications. Sodium aluminate and aluminium sulfate are cheaper and widely available. 

The reaction produces sodium sulfate, which is less costly to handle than potassium nitrate. 

This route is already used in large-scale industrial processes like water treatment and paper manufacturing. 

Sufficient Purity: While it can introduce sulfates into the final product, many applications in catalyst support materials tolerate these impurities without significantly affecting performance. The product should not contain more than 5wt% SO3. 

Considerations: 

Ensure that any residual sulfate does not adversely impact catalytic activity or stability in your specific application.

Route 2: Potassium aluminate + Aluminium nitrate + Water

Reaction: KAlO2+Al(NO3)3+H2O→Al(OH)3↓+KNO3 

Viability for Catalyst Carriers: 

Similar reaction mechanism as Route 1. 

Potassium aluminate is less commonly available and more expensive than sodium aluminate. 

Aluminum nitrate is more expensive than aluminium sulfate. 

Potassium nitrate byproduct has limited reuse potential compared to sodium sulfate. 

Produces high-purity pseudoboehmite AlO(OH), which is often critical for advanced catalyst supports where contaminants could hinder performance.

Controlled Properties: 

Better control over particle size and morphology can lead to enhanced surface area, more suitable porosity, and pore size distribution which are key factors in effective catalyst performance.

• Considerations:

The higher cost of aluminium nitrate might be justified if the end-use requires superior quality and consistency in catalyst performance.

​