Aluminum Sulfate Uses
Aluminum Sulfate uses: Aluminum sulfate is a commonly used industrial chemical.
It is known as filter alum. The compound of aluminum, sulfur, and oxygen is often a dry crystal, powdery substance that becomes slimy when wet and is not combustible.
The solution, Al2O3, is also known as “Alum” and has been in use since ancient Egyptian times when it helped the dyeing process.
Aluminum sulfate used for multiple purposes: water purification,
dyeing fabrics, adjusting the pH level, particularly basic soil, manufacturing of paper, medical uses, Leather Tanning, Fire extinguishers, food industry, cosmetics industry, etc.
Agriculture
Since aluminum sulfate is extremely acidic so it is used for balancing soil ph.
When aluminum sulfate comes into contact with water, it forms the aluminum hydroxide and a much diluted sulfuric acid solution, which alters the soil acidity.
Some acid-loving plants (such as blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, dogwoods, holly, gardenias, camellias,.) are adapted to grow in acid soils — even as low as pH 4.5.
If you want to grow them, you need a soil pH of less than 6. some kinds of flowers like hydrangeas are PH indicators, which means that you can use aluminum sulfate to have gorgeous hydrangeas in different colors.
Dyeing fabrics
Aluminum sulfate is used as a fixer and mordant in dyeing and printing on the clothes. a mordant is a substance at helps the dye with attractive printed on fabric or paper. When dissolved in a large amount of water that has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH, the compound produces a sticky substance, Aluminum hydroxide. So by using this sticky substance, the color of the fabric is maintained after washing.
Cosmetics industry
Aluminum Sulfate causes a tightening or tingling sensation of the skin. It also draws together or constricts body tissues which is effective in stopping the flow of blood.
Aluminum Sulfate can also decrease or remove unpleasant odors and protect against the formation of such odors on the skin.
So it has been used in deodorants.
Fire Extinguisher
Some fires cannot be put out with water, consider oil fire ; if you try to extinguish the fire with water you will make it worse. So you should use foam in order to get rid of it. The foam mixture is formed by using sodium bicarbonate and aluminum sulfate mixed with water.
Food industry
Aluminum is used for multiple purposes in the food we eat and is generally recognized safe when used in accordance with a good manufacturing practice. It is soluble in water and is mainly used as a thickener and emulsifier. It is sometimes used in the human food industry as a firming agent, where it takes on E Number E 520, and in animal food industry as a bactericide.
Aluminum Sulfate uses in Leather tanning
Aluminum sulfate could also have been used in the tanning process to make leather products. During the tanning process aluminum sulfate is blended with sodium chloride, flour, and another salt called sodium carbonate and rubbed on the hides. The mixture sits on the hides for 24 hours before it is removed. The whole process is repeated several times. The mixture containing aluminum sulfate prevents the hides from decaying.
Manufacturing of paper
In the past, aluminum sulfate was used in making paper, although synthetic agents have mostly replaced it. The aluminum sulfate is associated with the size of paper. In this process, aluminum sulfate was combined with rosin soap to change the absorbency of the paper. This changes the ink-absorbing properties of the paper. Using aluminum sulfate means that the paper was made under acidic conditions. The use of synthetic sizing agents means that acid-free paper can be produced. The acid-free paper does not break down as fast as paper-sized with acid.
Medical uses
It is used as a coagulating agent in treating minor cuts and abrasions as well as manufacturing of styptic pencils. Aluminum sulfate is found in materials used in the pharmaceutical industry. For instance, it is used in the preparation of aluminum acetate ear drops.
Aluminum Sulfate uses in water treatment
Aluminum sulfate is best known for this quality. Municipal water suppliers, such as your local water utility company, make use of alum to purify water for human consumption. In addition, process water (non-drinking water) may also be treated with this chemical for purification when bacteria/sediment would cause an adverse effect.
When it is added to water, aluminum sulfate causes microscopic impurities to clump together into larger and larger particles. These clumps then settle to the bottom of the container and can be filtered out. This makes the water safer to drink. On the same principle, alum is .also sometimes used in swimming pools to decrease water cloudiness
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