【Product Description】
Aluminum sulfate is produced by the pressurized reaction of bauxite with sulfuric acid, or by decomposing alunite, kaolin, and alumina-containing silicon materials with sulfuric acid. In the sulfuric acid method, bauxite is crushed to a certain particle size, then placed in a reactor to react with sulfuric acid. After the reaction, the liquid undergoes sedimentation, and the clarified liquid is neutralized to a neutral or slightly alkaline state with sulfuric acid. It is then concentrated to about 115°C, cooled, solidified, and crushed to obtain the final product. The chemical reaction equation is:
Al₂O₃ + 3H₂SO₄ → Al₂(SO₄)₃ + 3H₂O.
【Applications of Industrial Aluminum Sulfate】
Water Treatment: Used as a coagulant. When dissolved in water, aluminum sulfate causes fine particles and natural colloids in water to coagulate into large flocs. It is used in drinking water treatment to control water color and taste.
Paper Industry: Acts as a sizing agent to enhance the water resistance and impermeability of paper. It also improves whitening, sizing, retention, and filtration. Iron-free aluminum sulfate is recommended, as it does not affect the color of white paper.
Textile Dyeing: When dissolved in a large amount of neutral or slightly alkaline water, it forms a colloidal precipitate of aluminum hydroxide, which helps dyes adhere to plant fibers during fabric dyeing.
Cement Industry: Primarily used as a cement hardening accelerator. The proportion of aluminum sulfate in cement hardeners is 40-70%.
Firefighting: Combined with baking soda and foaming agents to form foam fire extinguishers.
Mining Industry: Used as a flotation agent for extracting metallic minerals.
Leather Tanning: Acts as a tanning agent that binds with the proteins in leather, making it soft, durable, and enhancing its antimicrobial and waterproof properties.
Cosmetics: Used as a raw material in antiperspirant products (astringents).
Miscellaneous Industries: Used as a precipitating agent in the production of chrome yellow and lake pigments, while also acting as a fixative and filler.
Raw Material: Can be used to manufacture synthetic gems, high-grade ammonium alum, and other aluminates.
Electroplating: Serves as a component in electroplating solutions, used for plating aluminum, copper, etc.
Wood Preservation: Its strong acidity forms an acidic layer on wood surfaces, effectively inhibiting the growth of fungi and mold, thus acting as a preservative.
Catalyst: Used as a catalyst in certain chemical reactions, such as catalytic cracking in petroleum refining to convert heavy oil molecules into lighter products. It also acts as a catalyst in dehydration and esterification reactions.
Animal Glue: Serves as an effective cross-linking agent for animal glue, increasing its viscosity.
Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesives: Used as a curing agent, with a 20% aqueous solution speeding up the curing process.
Horticultural Color Enhancement: Added to fertilizers to make plant flowers turn blue.
Oil Clarification: Acts as a clarifying agent in the oil industry.
Petroleum Industry: Used as a deodorizing and decolorizing agent.
Suspension Stabilizer: In conjunction with surfactants, it enhances the suspension of particles in liquids, reduces particle aggregation, prevents sedimentation, and increases the stability of the liquid.
Soil pH Adjustment: Helps regulate soil pH. Its hydrolysis produces a small amount of dilute sulfuric acid, promoting the improvement of clay soil structure, increasing soil aeration and drainage.
