ALUMINIUM SULFATE

← Back to Chemical Safety

Basic information

  • Chemical formula(s): \({\rm Al_2(SO_4)_3}\)
  • Other names: aluminium trisulfate, dialuminium trisulfate, alum, papermaker’s alum
  • CAS: 10043-01-3
  • International Chemical Safety Card (ICSC): 1191
  • Flammability: no
  • NOAA’s description: anhydrous is a white crystalline solid; soluble in water, nontoxic; immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment

NFPA 704 (fire diamond)

  • Health (blue): 1 - exposure would cause irritation with only minor residual injury.
  • Flammability (red): 0 - will not burn under typical fire conditions, will not burn in air unless exposed to a temperature of 820 °C for more than 5 minutes.
  • Instability–reactivity (yellow): 0 - normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water.
  • Special notice (white): -

Hazard statements

Code Phrase
H290 may be corrosive to metals

Precautionary statements

Code Phrase
P234 keep only in original container
P390 absorb spillage to prevent material damage
P406 store in corrosive resistant container with a resistant inner liner

Protective measures

Gloves

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and OSHA Glove Selection Chart do not provide recommendation on gloves for handling aluminium sulfate. Gloves4U categorizes gloves into four protection levels (excellent, good, fair, poor) for given chemical. The levels of protection against aluminium sulfate for four types of gloves are:

  • Neoprene: N/A
  • Natural latex or rubber: excellent.
  • Buthyl: N/A
  • Nitrile: excellent.

Safety goggles

  • Always wear safety goggles when handling aluminium sulfate. Corrective glasses are not considered safety googles.
  • Handle aluminium sulfate inside the fume hood only (with exception of moving the closed bottle to and from the storage cabinet).

Clothing

  • Wear long trousers and fully covered shoes.
  • Contact lenses are forbidden while working with chemical substances, even in combination with safety glasses.
  • Do not wear cosmetics.
  • Do not wear synthetic clothing while working with flammable liquids or gases or when a hazard is present as these materials tend to melt and stick to exposed skin.
  • Do not wear headphones.

Spill management

  • Use personal protective equipment.
  • Avoid dust formation, avoid breathing dust.
  • Avoid breathing vapors or mist.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation.
  • Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
  • Sweep up without creating dust and arrange disposal.
  • Do not let it enter drain.
  • If a spill happened outside the fume hood (on the floor or desktop) contact Dr Jakub Tkaczuk (+41 44 632 31 62) and the ETH Emergency Desk (+41 44 342 11 88 from mobile or 888 from landline).