Process for producing alumina

Process for the preparation of alumina by the hydrolysis of an aluminum alkoxide which comprises

• (a) providing in a reactor a reaction system comprising two substantially immiscible liquid phases, the first liquid phase being water and the second liquid phase being a solution of Al(OR).sub.3 in ROH wherein "R" is an alkyl radical containing sufficient carbon atoms to render the ROH compound containing same substantially immiscible with water at 25.degree. C. and one atmosphere;
• (b) heating said reaction system to a temperature at least as high as the azeotropic temperature, at one atmosphere pressure, of water and the ROH constituent thereof having the lowest boiling point;
• (c) bubbling steam upward through said reaction system whereby Al(OR).sub.3 is hydrolyzed to form particles of hydrated alumina and ROH as a by-product;
• (d) withdrawing overhead from the reactor an azetropic mixture of water and ROH;
• (e) passing the said particles of hydrated alumina downwardly through the reactor as an aqueous slurry countercurrently to the flow of steam bubbles for a period of time sufficient to strip occluded alcohol therefrom;
• (f) removing the substantially alcohol-free alumina particles from the reactor as a slurry in a portion of the water in said reactor;
• and
• (g) introducing additional water, Al(OR).sub.3 and ROH into said reaction system under conditions which maintain essentially a steady state in said reactor.