Albemarle (ALB) S-8 Registration of securities for employees

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 26, 2010 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Albemarle’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Richmond, Virginia

May 14, 2010