Absorption method and mesoporous alumina used for the same

A method for absorbing an element belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 3 to 14 of the periodic table, the method comprising:

• preparing mesoporous alumina satisfying both of the following items (1) and (2):
• (1) a CO2 amount desorbed at a peak with a peak temperature of less than 200° C. in thermal desorption amount spectrometry using CO2 as a probe molecule is 5 μmol/g or more;
• and
• (2) a NH3 content desorbed at a peak with a peak temperature of less than 300° C. in thermal desorption amount spectrometry using NH3 as a probe molecule is 25 μmol/g or more and less than 300 μmol/g;
• and
• bringing a liquid comprising an absorption target element in contact with the mesoporous alumina to absorb the absorption target element in the mesoporous alumina;
• wherein the absorption target element is at least one type selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 3 to 14 of the periodic table.