Polyaluminium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxychloride, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, PAC 10, PAC 17, PAC30 Powder, 1327-41-9, 101707-17-9
POLYALUMINIUM CHLORIDE (PAC)
1. CHEMICAL IDENTITY
| Parameter |
Information |
| Primary Names |
Polyaluminium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxychloride, Aluminum Chlorohydrate |
| CAS Numbers |
1327-41-9, 101707-17-9, 11097-68-0, 114442-10-3 |
| Forms |
Powder (30% Al₂O₃), Liquid (10% and 17% Al₂O₃) |
| Appearance |
Yellow, grey or white powder / turbid liquid |
| pH (1% solution) |
3.5 – 5.0 |
2. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
| Property |
PAC30 Powder |
PAC17 Liquid |
PAC10 Liquid |
| Form |
Solid |
Liquid |
Liquid |
| Al₂O₃ Content |
~30% |
~17% |
~10% |
| Appearance |
Yellow/white powder |
Turbid liquid |
Turbid liquid |
| pH (1% solution) |
3.5 – 5.0 |
3.5 – 5.0 |
3.5 – 5.0 |
| Solubility |
Easily soluble in water |
Ready-to-use solution |
Ready-to-use solution |
3. WORKING PRINCIPLE
PAC interacts with colloidal and dissolved substances in water through a three-stage mechanism:
| Stage |
Mechanism |
Result |
| Coagulation |
Neutralizes surface charges |
Destabilizes particles |
| Flocculation |
Destabilized particles join together |
Forms large flocs |
| Sedimentation |
Flocs settle by gravity |
Water becomes clear |
Key Features: High adsorption capacity, wide pH tolerance
4. APPLICATION AREAS AND TYPICAL DOSAGES
| Industry / Application |
Typical Dosage |
Purpose |
| Drinking Water Treatment |
5 – 50 mg/L |
Turbidity, color, organic matter, microorganism removal |
| Municipal Wastewater Treatment |
20 – 100 mg/L |
Suspended solids, phosphorus removal |
| Industrial Wastewater Treatment |
50 – 200 mg/L |
Precipitation of organic/inorganic pollutants |
| Pool & Spa Water |
10 – 30 mg/L |
Water clarity, microbial control |
| Paper & Pulp |
0.1 – 0.5% (to pulp) |
Fiber bonding, strength enhancement |
| Textile |
1 – 5 g/L |
Fabric finishing, dye fixing |
| Petroleum & Refinery |
Process-dependent |
Water-oil separation, injection water treatment |
| Cement |
Low dosage (special formulation) |
Rapid setting additive |
| Cosmetics / Pharmaceuticals |
1 – 5% (CAS 11097-68-0) |
Antiperspirant formulations |
5. USAGE INSTRUCTIONS
5.1 Preparation for PAC30 Powder
| Step |
Description |
| Water Selection |
Use clean, near-neutral pH water (pH 6–7) |
| Mixing |
Mix at low speed (avoid excessive mechanical energy) |
| Stock Solution |
Prepare a 5–10% stock solution |
| Storage of Solution |
Use freshly prepared; do not store for long periods |
| Application |
Feed stock solution into the system using dosing pumps |
5.2 Dosage Determination
Mandatory Step: The optimum dosage must be determined by JAR TEST.
Water turbidity, organic load, and pH directly affect the required dosage.
6. COMPARISON OF PRODUCT FORMS
| Feature |
PAC30 Powder |
PAC17 Liquid |
PAC10 Liquid |
| Ready to Use |
Requires dissolution |
Ready to use |
Ready to use |
| Transport Volume |
Low (concentrated) |
High |
Very high |
| Storage |
Requires dry environment |
Standard |
Standard |
| Dosage Volume |
Low |
Medium |
High |
| Sludge Production |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
| Economy |
Suitable for large plants |
Practical for small plants |
Practical for small plants |
7. ADVANTAGES
| Advantage |
Description |
| ✓ High efficiency |
Effective results at low dosages |
| ✓ Wide pH range |
Works across different water characteristics |
| ✓ Less sludge production |
Reduces disposal costs |
| ✓ Low dosage requirement |
Economical to use |
| ✓ Rapid solubility |
Operational convenience |
| ✓ Arsenic and fluoride removal |
Additional pollutant control |
8. INDUSTRY SUITABILITY TABLE
| Industry / Sector |
Suitability Level |
Description |
| Drinking Water Treatment |
Full Compliance |
Turbidity, color, organic matter removal |
| Municipal Wastewater Treatment |
Full Compliance |
Suspended solids and phosphorus removal |
| Industrial Wastewater Treatment |
Full Compliance |
Precipitation of organic/inorganic pollutants |
| Pool & Spa Systems |
Full Compliance |
Water clarity and microbial control |
| Paper & Pulp |
Full Compliance |
Fiber bonding, product quality enhancement |
| Textile |
Full Compliance |
Finishing, dye fixing |
| Petroleum & Refinery |
Full Compliance |
Phase separation, injection water treatment |
| Cement |
Partial Compliance |
Rapid setting additive |
| Cosmetics / Pharmaceuticals |
Partial Compliance |
Antiperspirant formulations |
| Sugar Refineries |
Partial Compliance |
Syrup clarification |
| Mining & Metallurgy |
Partial Compliance |
Post-flotation sedimentation |
| Food Industry |
Limited Use |
Requires certification and regulatory approval |
9. PRECAUTIONS
| Issue |
Warning |
| Dosage |
Must be determined by jar test; overdosing may leave aluminum residue |
| Environmental Impact |
Overdosing can cause environmental problems |
| Storage (Powder) |
Store in dry, closed environment; moisture contact causes degradation |
| Solution Stability |
Prepare stock solutions freshly; do not store for extended periods |
| Regulations |
Comply with local regulations and safety instructions |
10. STORAGE AND SAFETY
| Parameter |
Recommendation |
| Powder Storage |
Dry, cool, closed area; moisture-free environment |
| Liquid Storage |
Plastic or stainless steel tanks; protect from direct sunlight |
| Shelf Life (Powder) |
12–24 months under proper conditions |
| Shelf Life (Liquid) |
6–12 months under proper conditions |
| Personal Protective Equipment |
Gloves, protective goggles, dust mask (for powder form) |
Note: This document is for informational purposes. For specific applications, consult your technical team and perform jar tests under field conditions to determine the optimum dosage.
Polyaluminium Chloride (PAC) – Detailed Sectoral Usage
PAC is a high-performance coagulant/flocculant used in water treatment and industrial processes. Below is a detailed breakdown of its application by sector, including purpose, application method, typical dosages, and key considerations.
1. DRINKING WATER TREATMENT
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Removal of turbidity, color, organic matter, iron, manganese, arsenic, fluoride, and microorganisms |
| Application Point |
Rapid mixing tank (coagulation) – typically before chlorination |
| Typical Dosage |
5 – 50 mg/L (depending on raw water turbidity and TOC) |
| Method |
PAC30 powder is first dissolved into a 5–10% stock solution, then dosed via dosing pump. Liquid forms are used directly. |
| Advantages |
• Effective over a wide pH range (pH 5–9)
• Less sludge compared to aluminum sulfate
• Good performance even at low temperatures |
| Precautions |
Residual aluminum in effluent must comply with limits (typically <0.2 mg/L). Jar test is mandatory. |
2. MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Removal of suspended solids (SS), total phosphorus (TP), COD and BOD |
| Application Point |
Pre-treatment (primary sedimentation), simultaneous precipitation (in biological tank), or tertiary treatment (post-sedimentation) |
| Typical Dosage |
20 – 100 mg/L (depending on phosphorus load) |
| Method |
Direct injection into channel or mixing tank |
| Advantages |
• Can reduce phosphorus to <0.5 mg/L
• Sludge volume is 30–50% less than with aluminum sulfate |
| Precautions |
Overdosing can lower effluent pH and adversely affect microorganisms. |
3. INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT
a) Textile Wastewater
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Removal of dyes, dispersants, surfactants, and color |
| Dosage |
50 – 200 mg/L (depending on color and COD) |
| Note |
Flocculation speed increases when used with an anionic polymer. |
b) Food & Beverage Wastewater
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Removal of oil & grease, proteins, starch, and suspended solids |
| Dosage |
30 – 150 mg/L |
| Note |
pH adjustment may be required (optimum pH 6–8). |
c) Metal & Mining Wastewater
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Heavy metal precipitation (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, etc.) and suspended solids removal |
| Dosage |
50 – 300 mg/L |
| Note |
Effective even at high salinity. |
4. POOL AND SPA WATER
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Turbidity removal, algae and microorganism control, water clarity |
| Application Point |
Before filtration (pump station or balance tank) |
| Typical Dosage |
10 – 30 mg/L (1–2 times per week) |
| Method |
Liquid PAC is added directly to the pool or via the skimmer. |
| Advantages |
• Reduces chlorine demand
• Binds phosphates, preventing algae growth |
| Precautions |
Filter backwash should be performed after addition. |
5. PAPER AND PULP INDUSTRY
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
• Pitch control
• Increased retention of fibers and fillers
• White water clarification |
| Application Point |
Pulp preparation, paper machine inlet, or white water circuit |
| Typical Dosage |
0.1 – 0.5% (based on pulp dry solids) |
| Preferred Form |
Usually PAC10 or PAC17 liquid |
| Advantages |
• Satisfies cationic demand
• Improves sizing efficiency |
6. TEXTILE INDUSTRY
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
• Crease resistance in finishing baths
• Fixation of reactive dyes
• Wastewater treatment (as described above) |
| Application |
Applied to fabric via padding or impregnation |
| Typical Concentration |
1 – 5 g/L in finishing bath |
| Note |
Optimum effect at pH 4–5. |
7. PETROLEUM AND REFINERY INDUSTRY
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
• Demulsification of oil-water emulsions
• Removal of suspended solids and oil from injection water
• Refinery wastewater treatment |
| Application Point |
Before API separator or in sedimentation tanks |
| Typical Dosage |
20 – 150 mg/L (depending on water characteristics) |
| Advantages |
• Resistant to high salinity and variable pH
• Accelerates demulsification |
8. CEMENT INDUSTRY
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Rapid setting additive (hardening accelerator) |
| Application |
Added during cement grinding or mixed into mortar |
| Dosage |
0.05 – 0.2% of cement weight (very low) |
| Suitability |
Partial compliance – requires special formulation and testing. |
9. COSMETICS AND PHARMACEUTICALS
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Active ingredient in antiperspirant products |
| CAS Used |
Specifically 11097-68-0 (Aluminum Chlorohydrate) |
| Typical Ratio |
1 – 5% by weight in formulation |
| Mechanism |
Forms a temporary plug in sweat ducts, reducing sweat flow |
| Suitability |
Partial compliance – must comply with cosmetic regulations (EC 1223/2009, FDA). |
10. SUGAR REFINERIES
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Clarification of raw syrup – removal of colloidal matter, color bodies, and proteins |
| Application |
Coagulation before carbonation or phosphatation |
| Dosage |
10 – 50 mg/L (depending on syrup type) |
| Note |
Dosage must be precisely controlled to avoid sugar loss. |
11. MINING AND METALLURGY
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Clarification of post-flotation tailings water, heavy metal precipitation |
| Dosage |
50 – 300 mg/L |
| Note |
Effective in high-solids suspensions. |
12. FOOD INDUSTRY
| Parameter |
Description |
| Purpose |
Limited use – e.g., process water treatment in starch production |
| Suitability |
Limited Use – Food contact requires special certifications (FDA, Food Grade). Generally not used as a direct food additive. |
| Dosage |
Process-dependent, but food safety approval is mandatory. |
SUMMARY TABLE – TYPICAL DOSAGE AND FORM BY SECTOR
| Sector |
Typical Dosage (mg/L unless noted) |
Recommended Form |
Suitability |
| Drinking Water |
5 – 50 |
PAC30 powder |
Full |
| Municipal Wastewater |
20 – 100 |
PAC10/PAC17 |
Full |
| Industrial Wastewater (textile, metal, etc.) |
50 – 200 |
PAC17/PAC30 |
Full |
| Pool & Spa |
10 – 30 |
PAC10 (liquid) |
Full |
| Paper |
0.1–0.5% (on pulp) |
PAC17 |
Full |
| Textile (finishing) |
1–5 g/L |
PAC10 |
Full |
| Petroleum/Refinery |
20 – 150 |
PAC17 |
Full |
| Cement |
500 – 2000 ppm on cement |
PAC30 powder |
Partial |
| Cosmetics |
1–5% |
Special CAS |
Partial |
| Sugar |
10 – 50 |
PAC10 |
Partial |
| Food |
Process-dependent |
Certified grade |
Limited |
Critical Note: For every application, a jar test must be performed to determine the optimum dosage and pH conditions. Overdosing can lead to environmental risks (aluminum toxicity) and increased operating costs. Local regulations (e.g., aluminum limits for drinking water, wastewater discharge standards) must always be observed.
