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ARCHIVED - PSL Assessment Report for Aluminum Salts
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
- Synopsis
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Summary of Information Critical to Assessment of "Toxic" Under CEPA 1999
- 2.1 Identity and physical/chemical properties
- 2.2 Entry characterization
- 2.3 Exposure Characterization
- 2.4 Effects characterization
- 3. Assessment of "Toxic" Under CEPA 1999
- 3.1 CEPA 1999 64(a) and 64(b) Environment
- 3.2 CEPA 1999 64(c): Human health
- 3.3 Conclusion
- References
- Appendix A
- Appendix B
- Appendix C
2.1 Identity and physical/chemical properties
Aluminum chloride is also known as aluminum trichloride, aluminum chloride (1:3) and trichloroaluminum (ATSDR 2006). It has the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number 7446-70-0 and a chemical formula of AlCl3. In its hydrated form, AlCl3-6H2O, it is called hexahydrated aluminum chloride (CAS No. 7784-13-6). Trade names include Aluwets, Anhydrol and Drichlor.
Synonyms for aluminum nitrate include aluminum trinitrate and aluminum (III) nitrate (1:3). The CAS registry number is 13473-90-0 and the chemical formula is Al(NO3)3. The nonahydrate aluminum nitrate, Al(NO3)3-9H2O (CAS No. 7784-27-2), is the stable form of this compound.
Aluminum sulphate can also be identified as alum, alumsulphate (2:3), aluminum trisulphate, dialuminum sulphate and dialuminum trisulphate. The CAS registry number for aluminum sulphate is 10043-01-3 and the chemical formula is Al2(SO4)3. Alum is often represented as Al2(SO4)3-14H2O. It may be found in different hydrated forms. The commercial product, called cake alum or patent alum, is an octadecahydrate aluminum sulphate, Al2(SO4)3-18H2O.
In addition to these three compounds, aluminum polymers such as polyaluminum sulphate (PAS) and polyaluminum chloride (PAC) are used in water treatment. The general formula for PAS is Ala(OH)b(SO4)c, where b + 2c = 3a; for PAC, the general formula is Ala(OH)bClc, where b/a is usually about 2.5 (e.g., Al2(OH)5Cl). Mixed aluminum polymers may also be used; their general formula is Ala(OH)bClc(SO4)d, and b/a varies between 0.4 and 0.6.
Physicochemical properties of the three aluminum salts are presented in Table 2.1..
2 Refers to aluminum nitrate nonahydrate (CAS No. 7784-27-2)
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