Activated alumina is a highly porous material produced by the dehydroxylation of aluminum hydroxide. The compound has a high surface-to-weight ratio with a surface area between 120 and 250 square meters per gram of the raw material. It does not soften or disintegrate when immersed in liquids. Activated alumina is good packing media and is used as an air and gas desiccant, dryer for distillation plants, and as a catalyst. Activated alumina balls are used for adsorbing water and tertbutyl catechol (TBC) to purify styrene, butadiene, and cyclohexane.