What Is Aluminum Potassium Sulfate Used for?

Soil Fertilization

• Aluminum potassium sulfate, or potash, is used in one form or another as a soil fertilizer because of its potassium content. When it's used as a soil fertilizer, aluminum potassium sulfate is most often formulated as potassium sulfate. As a soil fertilizer, potassium sulfate from aluminum potassium sulfate is high in both potassium and sulfur, which plants utilize. However, aluminum potassium sulfate is far more versatile and not restricted to just soil fertilization.

Astringency

• Aluminum potassium sulfate is used in many other activities and processes, including in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries. The major reason aluminum potassium sulfate is used in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals is because of its astringency. An astringent like aluminum potassium sulfate has the ability to constrict body tissues and restrict blood flow. When it's used in foods, aluminum potassium sulfate is often referred to as just alum, and it makes for an excellent preservative and pickling agent.

Other Uses

• Another use for aluminum potassium sulfate is in the water purification process as a flocculant. Flocculants have the ability to bind with suspended matter in water. Once aluminum potassium sulfate binds with the suspended matter, it creates a "floc" which can then be filtered out. Aluminum potassium sulfate is even used to accelerate the hardening of concrete. When its employed to harden concrete, aluminum potassium sulfate is often known as just aluminum sulfate.

Considerations

• Aluminum potassium sulfate's high astringency is makes it valuable in many other applications. Aluminum potassium sulfate is valued in the making of paper from wood pulp. As a food preservative, aluminum potassium sulfate can be found in canned fruits and even in maraschino cherries. As a type of potash, aluminum potassium sulfate is used in leather tanning, rubber latex manufacturing and in the fireproofing of textiles.