Aluminum Sulfate

What is Aluminum Sulfate?

Molecular Formula (Aluminum Sulfate): Al₂H₂O₁₃S₃
Molecular Weight: 342.2 g/mol

Chemical Name: Sulfuric Acid Aluminum Salt

CAS Number: 10043-01-3

They are salts or esters of sulfuric acid formed by the replacement of one or two hydrogens of sulfate compounds with a metal.

Like many metal sulfate compounds, except for fluorides and oxides, such compounds do not dissolve very well in water.

Coagulation and Flocculation have very functional properties. It has the property of being hydrolyzed. It has complete hydrolysis capability.

Other Names are as Follows;

• Dialuminum Trisulfate

• Sulfuric Acid Aluminum Salt

• Alum filter

• Aluminum (III) Sulfate

• Coagulant

• Flocculant

• Aluminum Salt

How is Aluminum Sulfate Produced?

Aluminum Sulfate production is carried out in many European countries from Sulfuric Acid and Aluminum Hydroxide using the Giulini process.

In some regions where waste coal mining is conducted, it is produced by treating the resulting shale with sulfuric acid.

What are the Physical and Chemical Properties?

It is in colorless or white crystal form. Industrial products may appear yellowish or green due to the inclusion of impurities such as iron etc.

It has a very good solubility in water. Its aqueous solution is acidic.

In terms of stability, anhydrous Al2(SO4)3 is more stable.

Its density is 2.71 g/mL.

Melting Point: 770 °C

Boiling Point: 1800 °C

In terms of solubility, it does not have very good solubility in 96% ethyl alcohol.

What are the Usage Areas of Aluminum Sulfate?

• Among the most common usage areas is the production of Potassium Aluminum Sulfate. This compound is also known as alum. It is a complex salt obtained by the combination of two different simple salts. Alum has many usage areas in industry. These include drinking water treatment, the printing & dyeing sector, and the leather tanning sector.

• It is used in the production of antiperspirant sprays in the cosmetics sector.

• Used to provide pH control in paper production.

• For raw water treatment, Iron (III) Chloride and Al2(SO4)3 act as a good flocculant in the first stage of flocculation.

• If we classify by usage areas, two-thirds is used for water treatment. Nearly half is also used in the paper industry for paper sizing and adjusting pH.

• It is used as a precipitating agent in the treatment of turbid water.

• Used as a sizing agent for the paint to adhere to the paper. Resin sizing is performed.

• It is used in treatment due to its ability to hold organic and inorganic particles in the water together.

• Used in the recycling sector as an oil bleaching agent and an odor removal agent.

• In the paper sizing sector, the Al₂O₃ ratio should not exceed 12%.

• It has binding properties.

• In some mineral deposits, especially in porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits and iron sulfide and copper sulfide ores, molybdenite is found in low amounts. It is used in the recovery process of this molybdenite.

• Used for the removal of Calcium and Magnesium salts present in water.

• It accelerates flocculation and pH control time in paper production. In this way, the effectiveness of other components is increased.

• Used in Aluminum Dross processes for deoxidation of slag in the ladle furnace and for synthetic slag production.

What are the Factors Affecting Prices?

Aluminum Sulfate prices are directly proportional to the prices of the chemicals used in its production. When the prices of Sulfuric Acid and Aluminum Hydroxide increase, the prices of this chemical will increase.

With the increase in population and the development of industry, wastewater production has increased. At the same time, paper usage has increased. For this reason, the use of this chemical has increased. Nevertheless, this alone has not radically increased Aluminum Sulfate prices.