Monitoringclub.org | What is alum? Alum is a chemical that has a variety of benefits in everyday life. The use of alum in everyday life includes water purification, cosmetic ingredients, to cooking purposes.
However, the use of such alum should not be arbitrary. Because, alum consists of various types and its use must be adjusted to your needs.
Alum is a chemical that is often found in the form of white crystals. But not infrequently, alum is often sold in the form of fine powder. Alum is often also known as double salt sulfate and aluminum sulfate.
What Is Alum?
Alum is a double salt of sulfate and aluminum sulfate, used to purify water or a mixture of dyes. Alum is a chemical that usually takes the form of a white crystal. But not infrequently, alum is often sold in the form of fine powder.
Alum in crystal form is often used in various body care products, for example such as deodorant stones. Meanwhile, alum in the form of a fine powder generally refers to a type of potassium alum. This type of potassium alum is often used as a kitchen spice or as a food preservative.
As explained earlier, alum is one of the potassium aluminum sulfate chemicals that have been hydrated. In addition to alum made from potassium, there are various other types of chemicals used in the manufacture of alum. Each of these types of alum has different characteristics and uses. So, you really need to understand it before using it.
Type of alum
Alum is a chemical that consists of various types. As a material that is often used in everyday life with different uses, various types of alum are made from a variety of different chemicals.
The types and materials for making alum are as follows:
Potassium alum
Potassium alum is a type of alum made from potassium aluminum sulfate. This type of alum is usually often used as a kitchen ingredient to preserve food or it is also often added in baking powder. In addition, this type of alum is also used in water purification.
Alum soda
Alum soda is one type of alum that is often used in baking powder and as an acidulant or acidifying food.
Ammonium alum
Ammonium alum, which is often used in leveling or color matching, textile coloring, textile manufacture of fire materials, porcelain cement and vegetable glue manufacturing, water purification, and deodorant products.
Chrome alum
Chrome alum is a type of alum that has deep purple compounds, it is usually added to make lavender crystals that are purple.
Selenate alum
Selenate alum, which is a type of alum that contains selenium compounds. Selenium is a powerful oxidizing agent, so it can be used as an antiseptic.
Aluminum sulfate.
This compound is also known as a papermaking alum. However, technically this is not an alum.
Uses of Alum
The uses of alum are as follows:
Water Purification
Alum is a chemical known as a flocculator that serves to agglomerate impurities in the process of purifying water. Alum is often used as a water purifier, as turbidity in water can be eliminated through the addition of a type of chemical called coagulant.
The principle of water purification is to use the stability of polluting particles in the form of colloids. Alum is a chemical that serves as a coagulant in water and waste treatment. As a coagulant, alum is very effective for settling suspended particles, both in colloid and suspension form.
Cosmetic Ingredients
As a colloid former, alum is a chemical that is adsorption. Alum can absorb dirt, toxins, and more. Alum is a chemical that can be used to eliminate body odor or deodorant.
How to use alum to eliminate body odor is very easy, namely by taking one alum and then dipping it in water, after which apply it to the armpits to taste. Alum is also useful for removing the black color in the armpits.
The trick is also easy, namely using alum mixed with warm water to taste, then apply it on the dark armpits regularly.
In addition, the uses of alum are as follows:
- Adjuvant in vaccines (chemicals that enhance the immune response).
- Preservative agents to help keep pickles crunchy.
- As a fire retardant material
- Acidic components of some types of baking powder.
- Materials in some homemade clay and commercial modeling.
- Ingredients in some hair removal wax.
- Skin whitening.
- Ingredients in some brands of toothpaste.
Side effects of using alum
Keep in mind that any form of alum can potentially cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. Not only that, the ingredients of alum can also cause lung damage. That way, excessive consumption of salt or alum is not good for health.
In the long run, alum can also cause exposure that can increase the risk of certain cancers, oral plaques, to Alzheimer’s disease. However, this still needs to be supported by the results of further research.
Source:
- Image: Pierre.hamelin, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
