Alum (Potassium Aluminium Sulphate)

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Alum (Potassium Alum)

Crystalline, Potassium Aluminium Sulphate Dodecahydrate (Alum), 99.5% pure.

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Potassium alum occurs in nature as a sulphate mineral called alum-(K), typically as encrustations on rocks in areas of weathering and oxidation of sulphide and potassium-bearing minerals. Historically, Potassium alum was mainly extracted from alunite, which has been reportedly found at Vesuvius, Italy; east of Springsure, Queensland and in Alum Cave, Tennessee. Potassium alum is now produced industrially by adding potassium sulphate to a concentrated solution of aluminium sulphate. The aluminium sulphate is usually obtained by treating minerals like alum schist, bauxite and cryolite with sulfuric acid.

Applications

Crystals - Potassium Alum forms beautiful crystals.
Tanning Leather - Potassium Alum is used in the tawing step of the leather tanning process in order to remove moisture from the hide and prevent rotting. Unlike tannic acid, alum doesn't bind to the hide and can be washed out of it.
Paper - Used as a sizing ingredient.

Specifications

Typical product specification, for critical applications contact us for certificate of analysis.

Downloads

Alum (Potassium Aluminium Sulphate) MSDS

Chemical Identifiers

CAS number 7784-24-9
EC number 616-521-7
HS number 28333000

Product Identifiers