Use Of Aluminium Waste To Obtain Alum: A Practical Proposal For The Circular Economy

Abstract

The purpose of this work is the recycling of aluminum, where it is demonstrated that we can give it several uses, that society and the environment are the beneficiaries, in this case we will see the process of the manufacture of alum (aluminum sulfate salt and potassium). From recycled aluminium from the laboratories located in the u-block.   For this practice, laboratory materials, equipment and reagents were used, throughout this report we present the detailed steps and results of our project, it should be noted that it began by cutting small pieces of aluminum foil, where Al aluminum sulfate was obtained ₂(SO₄) ₃ thanks to the reaction of potassium hydroxide (KOH), then with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) to extract the crystals with pure methanol and then filter with the vacuum pump equipment. In this paper we also present several failed attempts and explain the correct quantities of our reagents and formulas used, to successfully obtain alum from recycled aluminum.          To give us an idea of the help that this project of recycling aluminum, whether from cans or on paper, is capable of generating, we are contributing greatly to the environment, since an aluminum can has a useful life of 100 years. Aluminum sulfate has many applications, and one of the most important is its involvement in wastewater treatment.