Alum
Alum is an aluminum sulfate salt that is used as a coagulant and flocculant and is widely used in water treatment processes. It has a number of industrial and household uses, such as in baking powder, tanning, dyeing, and fire extinguishers.
Where is Alum Generally Used?
Alum is a common ingredient used for industrial and household purposes. It is used in water treatment processes as a flocculant and coagulant, for example, to remove suspended particles from water bodies. It is also used as a protein precipitant in leather tanning. Additionally, alum is a common ingredient used in baking powder for baking.
Where is Alum Found?
Alum can be found naturally occurring in clay, soil, and in the crystalline form in deposits. The mineral is synthetically prepared for commercial purposes in two ways: The Bayer process and the Aluminum sulfate process.
What are the Health Benefits of Alum?
Alum is considered to be safe for use in foods, and it has been granted the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It has many uses in the medical and industrial field, as well as in the home.
The following are some of the benefits of using alum:
- It is a natural antiseptic and astringent, and can be used to treat wounds.
- It can be used to reduce skin irritation and oiliness, when added to facial and body scrubs.
- It can be used as a deodorant, as it helps kill bacteria which causes odor.
- It is also a powerful coagulant and flocculant.
- It reduces water hardness by binding with calcium and magnesium ions and dissolving them.
Interesting Facts about Alum
Alum has been used since ancient times for a variety of purposes. Ancient Egyptians used it to mummify bodies, and it has been used in Roman cuisine to keep tomatoes firm. It has also been used in food preservatives and antiseptics in the past.
List of Other Similar Ingredients
Alum is not the only aluminum sulfate salt that is used in industrial and household uses. Other similar ingredients include aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum potassium sulfate, and aluminum sulfate. Each of these salts has its own individual uses, such as aluminum potassium sulfate, which is used as a feedstock for the production of alum.