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E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is a metal sulfate, an aluminium salt and a potassium salt.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate contains an aluminium(3+).
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is considered by the FDA as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substance.
CAS Number: 10043-67-1
Molecular Formula: AlKO8S2
Molecular Weight: 258.21
EINECS Number: 233-141-3
Synonyms:Aluminum potassium sulfate, Potassium alum, 10043-67-1, Potash alum, Potassium aluminum sulfate, Potassium aluminium sulfate, Alaun, Alum potassium, Aluminum potassium alum, Aluminum potassium disulfate, Exsiccated alum, Potassium aluminum alum, Alum potassium anhydrous, Tai-Ace K 20, Tai-Ace K 150, Dialuminum dipotassium sulfate, Aluminum potassium sulfate anhydrous, Potassium alum anhydrous, Alum N.F., Aluminum potassium sulfate alum, potassium aluminum disulfate, Potassium aluminum sulfate 1:1:2, 09OXB01F3O, Aluminum potassium sulfate AlK(SO4)2, Aluminum potassium sulfate KAl(SO4)2, INS NO.522, DTXSID9039234, CHEBI:86463, INS-522, E-522, aluminium 3+ ion potassium disulfate, Alumen, RefChem:867701, DTXCID7051, DTXCID401476729, Bestmade Natural Products Alum Kali Alum Sulph, 233-141-3, 1L24V9R23S, Alum Potassium, Aluminum Potassium Sulfate 1:1:2 Dodecahydrate, DTXSID401018678, Kalinite, Aluminium potassium bis sulphate, Aluminium potassium sulfate, aluminum potassium disulfate, aluminium potassium sulfate 1/1/2, 15007-61-1, CCRIS 6842, HSDB 2685, EINECS 233-141-3, UNII-09OXB01F3O, MFCD00003428, POTASSIUM-ALUM, POTASH-ALUM, POTASSIUM-ALUM-, EC 233-141-3, AlK(SO4)2, SCHEMBL65762, Sulfuric acid aluminium potassium salt 2:1:1, ALUMINUMPOTASSIUMSULFATE, orb1909124, ALUM POTASSIUM HSDB, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULPHATE, Aluminium potassium sulfate anhydrous, AKOS015856586, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULFATE MI, DB09087, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULFATE FCC, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULFATE VANDF, ALUMINIUM POTASSIUM SULFATE ANHYDROUS, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULPHATE ANHYDROUS, DB-220131, ALUMINIUM POTASSIUM SULFATE WHO-DD, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULFATE 1:1:2, NS00076457, ALUMINIUM POTASSIUM SULFATE 1:1:2, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULPHATE 1:1:2, ALUMINIUM POTASSIUM-SULFATE DODECAHYDRATE, T35381, Q411309, Aluminum potassium sulfate puriss anhydrous calcined >=98% powder, ALUMINUM POTASSIUM SULFATE, ALUM POTASSIUM, ALUMINIUM POTASSIUM SULPHATE, alum,n.f., aluminiumpotassiumbis(sulfate), aluminumpotassiumalum, aluminumpotassiumdisulfate, exsiccatedalum
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate, commonly known as potassium alum or alum, is an inorganic double sulfate salt with the chemical formula KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O.
It contains potassium sulfate and aluminium sulfate in a hydrated crystalline form.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is used as a firming agent, acidity regulator, coagulant, and processing aid in food and industrial applications.
Chemically, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate contains potassium ions (K⁺), aluminium ions (Al³⁺), and sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) along with water of crystallization.
When dissolved in water, it forms a mildly acidic solution.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate gives it coagulating and astringent properties.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate appears as colorless or white transparent crystals or crystalline powder.
It is odorless and has a slightly astringent taste.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate functions as a firming agent in food processing, helping maintain texture in fruits and vegetables.
It strengthens tissue structure during processing.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves product firmness.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate acts as a coagulant and clarifying agent, helping suspended particles aggregate in liquids.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate also has an important role in traditional and modern clarification systems, because when dissolved in water it produces positively charged aluminium species that attract negatively charged suspended particles, allowing very fine impurities to aggregate into larger flocs that can settle or be filtered much more efficiently during purification processes.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate coagulation mechanism has been widely used for centuries in water clarification and remains valuable in controlled industrial applications.
This significantly improves separation efficiency and liquid clarity.
In food preservation and pickling applications, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is valued because it can interact with pectin and structural components of plant tissues, helping fruits and vegetables maintain a firmer, crisp texture during long storage periods or thermal processing conditions that would normally soften the product considerably.
This effect is especially important in traditional pickling systems where texture retention is a major quality factor.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves product stability and consumer acceptance.
In the textile and dyeing industry, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate functions as a mordant by creating chemical bridges between dye molecules and fabric fibers, allowing colors to attach more strongly and resist washing, light exposure, and long-term fading much more effectively than untreated textiles.
This property made alum historically important in natural dyeing processes and it still remains relevant in certain specialty textile operations.
This improves dye durability and color consistency.
In leather tanning and hide processing, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate helps stabilize collagen structures inside animal hides by modifying protein interactions during tanning reactions, which contributes to preservation of the material and development of a firmer, more durable leather structure suitable for industrial or commercial use.
Its mild acidic and salt-forming properties support controlled treatment conditions.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves leather quality and longevity.
In personal care and cosmetic products, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is commonly used because of its astringent action, meaning it can temporarily tighten skin tissues and reduce moisture on the skin surface while also creating conditions that slow bacterial growth responsible for body odor formation.
For this reason, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is often found in crystal deodorants, aftershave products, and styptic pencils used to reduce minor bleeding after shaving.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves hygiene and skin care functionality.
In paper manufacturing, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate contributes to paper sizing systems by helping control how paper fibers interact with water, inks, and coatings, which is important for preventing excessive ink spreading and maintaining sharp print quality in finished paper products.
It also supports fiber bonding and surface treatment consistency during processing.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves paper performance and print precision.
Also known as E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate, Al2(S04)3.K2S04.24H20 (sometimes written AlK(S04)2·12H20) is white, odorless crystals having an astringent taste, and is soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol, and noncombustible.
Derived from alumite, leucite, or similar minerals, and also by crystallization from a solution made by dissolving aluminum sulfate and potassiwn sulfate and mixing,
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is used in dyeing (mordant), paper, matches, paints, tanning agents, waterproofing agents, purification of water, aluminum salts, food additive, baking powder, astringent, and as a cement hardener.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, aluminum, copper, steel, and zinc.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is dispensed in powders with phenol, salicylates, or tannic acid, gray or green colors may be developed owing to traces of iron in the alum.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is a chemical compound defined as the double sulfate of potassium and aluminium, with chemical formula KAl(SO4)2.
It is commonly encountered as the dodecahydrate, KAl(SO4)2·12H2O.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate crystallizes in an octahedral structure in neutral solution and cubic structure in an alkali solution with space group Pa3 and lattice parameter of 12.18 Å.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is the most important member of the generic class of compounds called alums, and is often called simply alum.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate also plays an important role in water purification systems, where it helps suspended particles clump together into flocs.
These flocs settle more easily and can be removed by filtration.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves water clarity.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is used in pickling and vegetable preservation, where it helps maintain crispness and firmness.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate strengthens plant tissues during storage and processing.
This improves texture retention.
In textile dyeing, it is used as a mordant to help dyes bind more strongly to fabrics.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves color fixation and durability.
This improves textile quality.
It is used in leather tanning, where it stabilizes collagen fibers in hides.
This supports tanning reactions and preservation.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves leather durability.
Density: 1.725 g/cm3
Solubility: Freely soluble in water, very soluble in boiling water; soluble in glycerol; practically insoluble in ethanol (96%)
Form: white hygroscopic powder
Color: white
Water Solubility: g/100g H2O: 3.00 (0°C), 5.90 (20°C), 109 (90°C) [LAN05]
Merck: 13,359
Cosmetics Ingredients Functions: ASTRINGENT
InChI: InChI=1S/Al.K.2H2O4S/c;;21-5(2,3)4/h;;2(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;+1;;/p-4
InChIKey: GRLPQNLYRHEGIJ-UHFFFAOYSA-J
SMILES: S([O-])(=O)(=O)[O-].S([O-])([O-])(=O)=O.[Al+3].[K+]
LogP: -1.031 (est)
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is commonly used in water purification, leather tanning, dyeing, fireproof textiles, and baking powder as E number E522.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate also has cosmetic uses as a deodorant, as an aftershave treatment and as a styptic for minor bleeding from shaving.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate precipitates proteins and is a powerful astringent.
The ability to precipitate proteins is utilized in the manufacture of vaccines, where purified proteins are coprecipitated with and adsorbed onto potassium alum.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is often included in preparations used as mouthwashes or gargles and in dermatological preparations, and it may be used as a topical hemostatic, either as a solid or as a solution.
In paper manufacturing, it can help control sizing and surface treatment properties.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves interaction between paper and inks.
This improves print quality.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is also used in cosmetic and personal care products, such as deodorant stones and aftershave products, because of its astringent and antimicrobial effects.
It helps reduce bacterial growth and tighten tissues.
This improves hygiene performance.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves separation and purification processes.
This improves clarity and stability.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is also used as an acidity regulator and processing aid in certain industrial and food systems.
It helps maintain controlled reaction conditions.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate sulphate/potassium alum) is best described as a stable double sulfate salt used for firming, coagulation, clarification, and pH-related processing due to its mild acidity and strong particle-binding properties.
In laboratory and educational chemistry, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is widely used as a model compound for crystal growth experiments because it forms large, transparent crystals relatively easily under controlled conditions, making it useful for demonstrating crystallization principles and ionic compound behavior.
Its predictable structure and stability make it valuable for teaching purposes.
This improves scientific education and experimental reliability.
In historical medicinal and antiseptic applications, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate has been used externally because its astringent properties can help reduce minor bleeding and temporarily contract tissues, although modern medical use is much more limited and controlled compared with historical practices.
Its mild antimicrobial effect also contributed to these traditional uses.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate supported basic wound-care applications historically.
In industrial wastewater treatment systems, potassium alum can help remove suspended solids, organic matter, and some coloring compounds by promoting coagulation and sedimentation reactions that simplify downstream filtration and sludge separation processes.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is especially important in systems requiring improved clarity before discharge or recycling.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves environmental treatment efficiency.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is a highly versatile double sulfate salt used across water purification, food preservation, textile dyeing, leather tanning, cosmetics, paper production, laboratory chemistry, and wastewater treatment because of its combined coagulating, astringent, firming, and stabilizing properties, which allow it to modify particle interactions, strengthen structures, and improve process control in many different industrial and commercial systems.
Uses Of E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate:
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is mainly used as a firming agent, coagulant, and clarifying agent in food and industrial systems.
It helps stabilize structures and remove suspended particles.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves processing efficiency.
In water treatment, it is used to clarify water by coagulating suspended solids into removable flocs.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate supports filtration and purification systems.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves water quality.
In pickled fruits and vegetables, it is used as a firming agent to maintain crisp texture during storage and processing.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate strengthens plant tissue structure.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves texture retention.
In textile industry, it is used as a mordant in dyeing processes.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate helps dyes bind more effectively to fibers.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves color durability.
In leather tanning, it stabilizes collagen fibers and supports tanning reactions.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate helps preserve and strengthen hides.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves leather quality.
In paper production, it is used in sizing and surface treatment systems.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate helps regulate absorption and printability.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves paper performance.
In cosmetics and personal care products, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is used in deodorants, aftershave products, and styptic pencils.
It provides astringent and mild antimicrobial effects.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves hygiene andE522 (aluminium potassium sulphate/potassium alum) is mainly used as a firming agent, coagulant, clarifying agent, mordant, and processing aid in food, water treatment, textile, cosmetic, and industrial applications because of its ability to bind particles, stabilize structures, and form mildly acidic solutions that support controlled chemical interactions.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphates combination of aluminium, potassium, and sulfate ions gives it versatile functionality in both liquid and solid processing systems.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves processing efficiency and product stability.
In water treatment and purification systems, potassium alum is widely used as a coagulant because it destabilizes suspended particles in water and causes them to aggregate into larger flocs that can settle or be removed through filtration much more effectively than untreated particles.
This process is essential for reducing turbidity, suspended solids, and certain contaminants in municipal and industrial water systems.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves water clarity and purification performance.
In pickled fruits and vegetable processing, it is used as a firming agent because it helps strengthen plant tissue structure and reduce softening during long-term storage, acidic preservation, or thermal treatment processes that would otherwise make the product lose its crisp texture.
This is especially important in traditional pickling applications where firmness is considered a major quality characteristic.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves texture retention and shelf stability.
In the textile and fabric dyeing industry, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is used as a mordant because it helps dyes chemically attach to textile fibers more strongly, allowing colors to become more uniform, more durable, and more resistant to washing or fading over time compared with untreated fabrics.
This function has historically been extremely important in natural dyeing systems and remains relevant in specialized textile manufacturing.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves dye fixation and fabric quality.
In leather tanning and hide processing, it is used to stabilize collagen fibers and support tanning reactions that convert raw animal hides into more durable, preserved leather materials suitable for industrial and commercial applications.
Its mildly acidic and salt-forming properties help create controlled treatment conditions during processing.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves leather strength and preservation.
In paper manufacturing, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is used in sizing systems and surface treatment operations because it helps control how paper interacts with inks, coatings, and water, reducing excessive absorption and improving print sharpness and paper performance during industrial production.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate also contributes to improved fiber bonding and surface consistency.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves printability and paper quality.
In cosmetic and personal care products, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is commonly used in crystal deodorants, aftershave products, and styptic pencils because its astringent effect temporarily tightens skin tissues while helping reduce moisture and slow bacterial growth associated with body odor or minor skin irritation.
This makes it valuable for hygiene and skin-care applications.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves personal care performance.
In industrial wastewater treatment systems, E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate helps remove suspended solids, dyes, oils, and organic materials by promoting coagulation and sedimentation reactions that simplify filtration and sludge separation processes before water discharge or recycling.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is especially useful in systems requiring improved liquid clarity.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves environmental treatment efficiency.
In laboratory and educational chemistry, it is widely used for crystal growth experiments and demonstrations of ionic compounds because it forms large, stable crystals under controlled conditions, making it useful for studying crystallization, solubility, and coordination chemistry principles.
Its predictable behavior supports reliable experimental results.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate improves scientific education and laboratory applications.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is used across water purification, food preservation, textile dyeing, leather tanning, paper manufacturing, cosmetics, wastewater treatment, and laboratory chemistry because of its strong coagulating, firming, mordant, and astringent properties, which allow it to improve particle removal, stabilize materials, strengthen structures, and enhance industrial processing performance in a wide range of applications.
Safety Profile Of E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate:
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is often included in preparations used as mouthwashes or gargles and in dermatological preparations.
Large doses of E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate act as an irritant and may be corrosive; gum necrosis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage have occurred. Acute encephalopathy has been reported following bladder irrigation with alum solutions in the treatment of bladder hemorrhage.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that this practice should be avoided for patients with renal insufficiency.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is generally considered a low-to-moderate hazard compound, but it can cause irritation and health effects with excessive exposure.
Its main risks are related to its aluminium content and acidic solution behavior.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate controlled use is considered safe.
The most common hazard is eye and skin irritation.
Powder or concentrated solutions may cause redness, dryness, or discomfort.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate prolonged exposure may worsen irritation.
Inhalation of dust may cause respiratory irritation, including coughing or throat discomfort.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is mainly an occupational handling issue.
Ventilation reduces exposure risk.
Ingestion of large amounts may cause gastrointestinal irritation, such as nausea or stomach discomfort.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate is due to its astringent and acidic properties.
Normal regulated food-use levels are considered safe.
Because it contains aluminium ions, long-term excessive exposure to aluminium compounds is still scientifically studied.
No confirmed severe chronic toxicity is established at approved exposure levels.
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate supports regulated use.
