Aluminum sulphate supplier in Pakistan
technical guide & specifications
Aluminum sulphate is a long-established industrial chemical used in water treatment, paper manufacturing, textiles, food processing, construction, agriculture, and pharmaceutical applications. This guide covers chemistry, grades, applications, storage, and sourcing for Pakistani buyers.
Typical Al₂O₃ content range for standard commercial granular grade.
Acidic in solution, which is critical for coagulation and process dosing performance.
A low-toxicity industrial chemical where dust, acidity, and moisture control are the main handling concerns.
What is aluminum sulphate?
Aluminum sulphate is an inorganic salt with the formula Al₂(SO₄)₃. In commercial practice, it is commonly supplied in hydrated form, most often as Al₂(SO₄)₃·18H₂O, appearing as white to off-white crystals, granules, or powder. It is also widely known as alum or papermaker’s alum.
Its most important industrial function is in water treatment. When dissolved in water, it hydrolyses to form aluminium hydroxide floc, a gelatinous precipitate that captures colloidal particles, turbidity-causing matter, suspended solids, and some microbial impurities. This coagulation-flocculation mechanism makes it one of the most widely used coagulants in conventional water treatment.
In Pakistan, aluminum sulphate also plays an established role in paper and board manufacturing, textile processing, food production, construction, agriculture, and selected pharmaceutical and personal care uses.
Chemical & physical properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical name | Aluminium sulphate |
| Common names | Alum, Papermaker’s Alum, Filter Alum |
| Chemical formula | Al₂(SO₄)₃ (anhydrous); Al₂(SO₄)₃·18H₂O (commercial hydrated form) |
| CAS Number | 10043-01-3 (anhydrous); 7784-31-8 (octadecahydrate) |
| Molecular weight | 342.15 g/mol (anhydrous); 666.42 g/mol (18-hydrate) |
| Appearance | White to off-white glossy crystals, granules, or powder |
| Odour | Odourless |
| pH (1% solution) | 3.0–4.0 |
| Al₂O₃ content (commercial granule) | 15.6–17.0% |
| Al₂(SO₄)₃ content (dry basis) | ≥99% (industrial grade) |
| Density (solid) | 1.69 g/cm³ (hydrated commercial grade) |
| Density (liquid, ~8.3% Al₂O₃) | ~1.33 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | 31.2 g/100 mL at 0°C; 89 g/100 mL at 100°C |
| Melting point | Loses water of crystallisation at ~86°C; anhydrous melts at 770°C |
| Flash point | Non-flammable |
| Hazard classification | Irritant (Xi) |
| UN classification | Not classified as dangerous goods (standard grades) |
| EINECS No. | 233-135-0 |
| E Number (Food) | E520 |
| Iron content (iron-free grade) | ≤10 ppm |
| Iron content (standard grade) | ≤750 ppm |
How aluminum sulphate is made
| Route | Al source | Iron content | Product grade | Pakistan context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bauxite + H₂SO₄ | Bauxite ore | High (750+ ppm) | Standard / ferric grade | Primary bulk route for water treatment and construction applications |
| Al(OH)₃ (Bayer) + H₂SO₄ | Purified aluminium hydroxide | Very low (≤10 ppm) | Iron-free grade | Specialty import route for food, pharma, paper, and low-iron applications |
| Al metal + H₂SO₄ | Aluminium scrap | Very low | High-purity product | Limited availability |
Commercial grades & forms
| Grade | Key specification | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard / Commercial grade | 15.6–17.0% Al₂O₃, iron ≤750 ppm | Municipal drinking water, wastewater, construction |
| Low iron grade | 15.6–17.0% Al₂O₃, iron ≤100 ppm | Textile dyeing, selected water treatment, lighter-colour applications |
| Grade | Key specification | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial grade (liquid) | 8.0–8.5% Al₂O₃, iron ≤1,000 ppm | Continuous dosing water treatment systems |
| Grade | Key specification | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Iron-free grade | 15.6–17.0% Al₂O₃, iron ≤10 ppm | Paper sizing, food processing, white textile applications |
| Grade | Key specification | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Food grade (FCC / E520) | 15.0–17.0% Al₂O₃, iron ≤10 ppm | Pickling, starch processing, baking-related applications |
| Pharmaceutical grade (BP / USP) | ≥99.5% on anhydrous basis, iron ≤15 ppm | Astringent compounds, haemostatic applications, medical devices |
Industrial applications in Pakistan
Water treatment
Used as a coagulant in municipal and industrial treatment trains to remove turbidity, suspended solids, colour, organic matter, and some pathogens.
Paper & pulp
Supports rosin sizing, charge neutralisation, retention improvement, and pitch control in paper and board manufacturing.
Textile processing
Used as a mordant, dye fixative, wastewater flocculant, and in selected flame-retardant textile applications.
Food processing
Food-grade material is used in pickling, starch processing, selected baking-related applications, and process water treatment.
Construction
Relevant in setting acceleration, waterproofing admixture use, and selected civil engineering and soil-related applications.
Agriculture
Used to lower soil pH for acid-loving crops and for specific soil amendment use where alkaline conditions affect nutrient availability.
Fire retardant systems
Used in fire retardant paints, coatings, textiles, and boards because of heat-absorbing decomposition behaviour.
Pharmaceuticals
Applied in astringent, haemostatic, wound care, veterinary, and selected medical-use formulations.
Personal care
Aluminium-based compounds are used in antiperspirants and related personal care applications requiring astringent action.
Why buy from us
Clear grade selection
We supply standard ferric, iron-free, food-grade, and other application-specific aluminum sulphate options for different industries.
Iron content control
Iron level matters. A grade acceptable for water treatment may not be suitable for paper, food, or lighter-colour textile applications.
Moisture-protected supply
Granular material is stored and supplied in conditions that help prevent caking, clumping, and poor dissolution performance.
Flexible packaging
Available in 25 kg bags, 50 kg bags, jumbo bags, and bulk quantities according to industrial requirement.
Documentation support
Documented specifications and certificates of analysis can be shared for quality-sensitive and regulated buyers.
Nationwide industrial coverage
We support municipal, industrial, and commercial buyers across Pakistan’s major production and treatment hubs.
Supplying aluminum sulphate across Pakistan
We support industrial and institutional buyers across Pakistan for water treatment, paper, textiles, construction, food processing, and other industrial uses. Supply can be arranged for major cities and surrounding industrial zones depending on grade and quantity requirements.
Storage, handling & safety
Storage guidance
- Store in a dry location to prevent moisture uptake, caking, and clumping
- Keep away from alkalis such as caustic soda, lime, and sodium carbonate
- Store away from reactive metals and unprotected metal surfaces
- Recommended storage temperature: 10–35°C in a covered dry warehouse
- Use HDPE bags, HDPE containers, fibreglass containers, or other compatible packaging
- For liquid grade, use HDPE, FRP, or rubber-lined tanks rather than mild steel
- Typical shelf life: around 2 years for sealed dry granular grade, and 6–12 months for liquid grade
PPE requirements
- Safety glasses, gloves, and dust mask for general granule or powder handling
- Chemical-resistant gloves, apron, and goggles for liquid grade handling
- P2 dust mask and eye protection for bulk powder transfer
- For spills, use gloves and eye protection, then neutralise with lime or soda ash if appropriate
Frequently asked questions
AMZ Industries — supply notes
We supply aluminum sulphate to buyers across Pakistan for water treatment, paper and board, textiles, food-related processing, construction, and general industrial use. Available options may include standard ferric grade, iron-free grade, liquid grade, and food-grade material depending on the application.
Supply can be arranged in multiple bag sizes and bulk quantities, with specification support available where required. We support buyers in Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, and other major industrial and municipal zones across Pakistan.
