Aluminum Sulfate Liquid

Aluminum Sulfate (Alum) Supplier

Aluminum Sulfate, commonly known as alum, is a versatile inorganic coagulant and flocculant that has been purifying water and enhancing industrial processes for centuries. As a highly effective agent for particle aggregation and impurity removal, it plays a critical role in municipal water treatment, wastewater clarification, paper manufacturing, and more. With more than 75 years of experience as a pioneering innovator, Alexander Chemical supplies top-quality Aluminum Sulfate in liquid and dry forms, backed by expert technical guidance and reliable bulk delivery services. Safety and compliance are our top priorities.

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Key Characteristics of Aluminum Sulfate

Chemical Properties

  • Aluminum Sulfate Formula: Al₂(SO₄)₃
  • Appearance: White crystalline solid or clear to slightly cloudy liquid solution (typically 48–50% solution)
  • Odor: Odorless
  • Solubility: Highly soluble in water, forming mildly acidic solutions
  • pH (1% solution): Approximately 3.5
  • Molecular weight: 342.15 g/mol (anhydrous)

Storage & Handling Requirements

  • Store in corrosion-resistant tanks — fiberglass, HDPE, or lined steel
  • Avoid contact with metals and strong bases

Aluminum Sulfate is a hazardous material. Highly reactive with bases and requires secure, compatible storage solutions. Mishandling can lead to serious safety and environmental risks. Always rely on certified professionals for storage, handling, and transportation.

What are the Uses of Aluminum Sulfate?

Aluminum Sulfate is one of the most widely used industrial coagulants in the world. Its ability to rapidly aggregate suspended particles makes it essential across a broad range of industries.

Water & Wastewater Treatment

The primary application for liquid aluminum sulfate is as a coagulant in municipal drinking water treatment and industrial wastewater systems. It removes turbidity, color, suspended solids, and phosphorus, producing clear, safe water that meets regulatory standards. It is also widely used in lake and reservoir restoration to control algae and bind phosphorus.

Paper Manufacturing

Aluminum Sulfate has been used for over 150 years in the paper industry for rosin sizing — a process that improves water resistance and printability. While some modern mills have moved to alternative sizing agents, alum remains in use in many paper and pulp operations.

Textile & Fabric Dyeing

As a mordant, Aluminum Sulfate helps fix dyes to natural fibers including cotton and wool, producing colorfast, vibrant fabrics. This application dates back thousands of years to ancient Egypt and remains in use in specialty textile manufacturing today.

Agriculture & Soil Conditioning

Aluminum Sulfate is used to lower soil pH, making it a preferred soil amendment for acid-loving plants such as blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons. It also provides aluminum and sulfur as secondary nutrients.

Other Industrial Applications

  • Fire retardant formulations
  • Leather tanning
  • Concrete waterproofing
  • Vaccine adjuvant to enhance immune response
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Bulk Aluminum Sulfate Delivery & Support Services

The professionals at Alexander Chemical bring decades of experience and expertise to managing Aluminum Sulfate with precision and care. We supply and deliver to municipal utilities, industrial facilities, and specialty operations across the country.

What We Offer

  • Supplying and delivering Aluminum Sulfate in bulk tankers, totes, or drums tailored to your specific requirements
  • On-site technical support for optimal dosing and application
  • Regulatory compliance guidance and safety training
  • Regular tank inspections and maintenance recommendations
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A Brief History of Aluminum Sulfate

Alum — in the form of natural aluminum potassium sulfate — has been used since ancient Egypt over 5,000 years ago, primarily as a mordant for dyeing textiles and in medicine. The Romans and Persians also relied on it extensively for similar purposes. Industrial production of aluminum sulfate as we know it today began in the early 19th century, largely replacing potassium alum in papermaking. Produced by reacting bauxite or aluminum hydroxide with sulfuric acid, it became a staple in water clarification and paper sizing by the mid-1800s and remains one of the most important industrial chemicals produced globally.

Aluminum Sulfate Facts

  • Ancient roots: Alum-based compounds were used by ancient Egyptians to create vibrant, colorfast fabrics — textile techniques that still impress historians today.
  • Lake restoration: Aluminum Sulfate is widely used to treat eutrophic lakes, binding phosphorus and turning green, algae-filled water crystal clear.
  • Vaccine science: It serves as an adjuvant in many vaccines, helping the body mount a stronger immune response to antigens.
  • Paper history: For over 150 years, alum helped produce the crisp white paper used in books, newspapers, and packaging worldwide.
  • Food safe: In dilute concentrations, aluminum sulfate is approved for use in food processing applications as a firming agent.

Frequently Asked Questions about Al₂(SO₄)₃

Aluminum sulfate is an inorganic salt and one of the most widely used industrial coagulants in the world. It is produced by reacting bauxite or aluminum hydroxide with sulfuric acid and is available in liquid form (typically 48–50% solution) or as a dry granular product. It is used primarily in water treatment but also in paper manufacturing, agriculture, textiles, and other industrial applications.

The most common use of aluminum sulfate is as a coagulant in municipal drinking water treatment and industrial wastewater systems, where it removes turbidity, suspended solids, and phosphorus. It is also used in paper manufacturing for rosin sizing, in agriculture to lower soil pH, in textile dyeing as a mordant, and in specialty applications such as fire retardants, leather tanning, and vaccine production.

Liquid aluminum sulfate (48–50% solution) is the most common form used in water treatment because it is easy to dose and does not require dissolving. Dry or granular alum is better suited to smaller-scale applications or sites without liquid storage infrastructure. Alexander Chemical supplies both forms.

Yes. When dosed correctly and used in accordance with NSF/ANSI 60 standards, aluminum sulfate is safe and highly effective for producing clear, safe drinking water. It is one of the most widely approved water treatment chemicals globally and has been used in potable water applications for over a century.

Alexander Chemical delivers aluminum sulfate via bulk tankers, intermediate bulk containers (totes), and drums based on your volume and site requirements. All deliveries are handled through Circle Transport, our dedicated logistics partner.

Aluminum sulfate should be stored in corrosion-resistant tanks made of fiberglass, HDPE, or lined steel, away from metals and strong bases. Alexander Chemical provides tank inspection and maintenance support as part of our delivery and compliance services.

A 1% solution of aluminum sulfate has a pH of approximately 3.5, making it mildly acidic. This acidity is part of what makes it effective as a coagulant — it destabilizes the surface charge of suspended particles in water, causing them to clump together and settle.

Aluminum sulfate is used across a wide range of industries including municipal water and wastewater treatment, paper and pulp manufacturing, textile and fabric dyeing, agriculture and soil conditioning, food processing, fire retardant production, leather tanning, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. It is one of the most broadly applied industrial chemicals globally.

Alexander Chemical supplies bulk aluminum sulfate with nationwide delivery. Contact our team to discuss your volume requirements, delivery schedule, and pricing.

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