What Is Alum and How Is It Used?
Alum is a type of chemical compound that is commonly used in everyday and industrial applications. It can be used to prepare aluminum salts, baking powder, paints, tanning materials, clarifiers, mordants, papermaking, waterproofing agents, water purification agents, colored glass, etc.
Usually, when you hear about alum it is in reference to potassium alum, which is the hydrated form of potassium aluminum sulfate and has the chemical formula AlK(SO4)2·12H2O.
However, any of the compounds with the empirical formula AB(SO4)2·12H2O are also considered to be alum. Sometimes alum is seen in its crystalline form, although it is most often sold as a powder. Potassium alum is a fine white powder that you can find sold with kitchen spices or pickling ingredients. It is also sold as a large crystal as a "deodorant rock" for underarm use.1
Key Takeaways: Alum
- Alum refers to a collection of chemical compounds that are hydrated sulfate salts of aluminum and usually one other metal.
- Common forms of alum include hydrated potassium aluminum sulfate, ammonium aluminum sulfate, and sodium aluminum sulfate.
- The different compounds have different functions. Alum finds use in vaccines, baking powder, tanning agents, deodorants, and antiseptics.
What Are the Types of Alum?
- Potassium Alum: Potassium alum is also known as potash alum or tawas. It is aluminum potassium sulfate. This is the type of alum that you find in the grocery store for pickling. It is also used in leather tanning, as a flocculant in water purification, as an ingredient in aftershave, and as a treatment for fireproof textiles. Its chemical formula is AlK(SO4)2.
- Soda Alum: Soda alum has the formula NaAl(S O4)2·12H2O. It is used in baking powder and as an acidulant in food.
- Ammonium Alum: Ammonium alum has the formula NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O. Ammonium alum is used for many of the same purposes as potassium alum and soda alum. Ammonium alum finds applications in tanning, dyeing textiles, purifying water, and making textiles flame retardant. It's also used in the manufacture of porcelain cement, vegetable glues, and some deodorants.
- Chrome Alum: Chrome alum or chromium alum has the formula KCr(S O4)2·12H2O. This deep violet compound is used in tanning and can be added to other alums to grow lavender or purple crystals.
- Selenate Alums: Selenate alums occur when selenium takes the place of sulfur so that instead of a sulfate you get a selenate, (SeO42-). The selenium-containing alums are strong oxidizing agents, so they can be used as antiseptics, among other uses.
- Aluminum Sulfate: This compound is also known as papermaker's alum. However, it is not technically an alum.
What Is Alum Used for?
Alum has several household and industrial uses. Potassium alum is used most often, although ammonium alum, ferric alum, and soda alum may be used for many of the same purposes.
- purification of drinking water as a chemical flocculant
- in styptic pencil to stop bleeding from minor cuts
- the adjuvant in vaccines ( a chemical that enhances the immune response)
- deodorant "rock"
- pickling agent to help keep pickles crisp
- flame retardant
- the acidic component of some types of baking powder
- an ingredient in some homemade and commercial modeling clay
- an ingredient in some depilatory (hair removal) waxes
- skin whitener
- ingredient in some brands of toothpaste
How Is Alum Produced?
Several minerals are used as the source material to produce alum, including alum schist, alunite, bauxite, and cryolite.
The specific process used to obtain the alum depends on the original mineral. When alum is obtained from alunite, the alunite is calcined. The resulting material is kept moist and exposed to air until it turns to a powder, which is lixiviated, or extracted, with sulfuric acid and hot water. The liquid is decanted, and the alum crystallizes out of the solution.
