In order to understand aluminum sulfate, it is necessary to understand its uses, including fire foam, sewage treatment, water purification and papermaking. The process used to produce aluminum sulfate involves combining sulfuric acid with other substances, such as bauxite and cryolite. Depending on the industry, it is called alum or paper alum
Aluminum sulfate is a white or off white crystal or powder. It is not volatile or flammable. When combined with water, its pH value is very low, it can burn skin or corrode metals, it is water-soluble, and it can keep water molecules. When alkaline water is added, it forms aluminum hydroxide, Al (OH) 3, as a precipitation. It can be found naturally in volcanoes or mining waste dumps.