Aluminium chlorohydrate

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Aluminium chlorohydrate is a group of salts having the general formula Al_nCl_(3n-m)(OH)_m. It is used in deodorants and antiperspirants and as a flocculant in water purification.

In water purification, where it is usually called polyaluminium chloride, this compound is preferred in some cases because the pH value can be varied according to the exact values chosen for the subscripts _n and _m in the pattern formula. Although many variations are used, an especially important combination is Al₁₂Cl₁₂(OH)₂₄. The actual pH correlates to the formula m/(3n).

1 Structure
2 Synthesis
3 Uses
- 3.1 Synonyms
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Structure

Aluminium chlorohydrate is best describe as an inorganic polymer and as such is difficult to structurally characterise. However, techniques such as Gel permeation chromatography, X-ray crystallography and ²⁷Al-NMR have been used research by various groups including that of Nazar (1) and Laden (2) to show that the material is based on Al₁₃ units with a Keggin ion structure and that this base unit then undergoes complex transformations to form larger poly-aluminium complexes.

[edit] Synthesis

[edit] Uses

The variation most commonly used in deodorants and antiperspirants is Al₂Cl(OH)₅. There is no scientific evidence supporting widespread rumors that aluminum salts in deodorants can cause Alzheimer's disease or breast cancer.

[edit] Synonyms

aluminium hydroxychloride
aluminium chlorhydroxide
aluminium chloride basic
polyaluminium chloride (or polyaluminum chloride)

[edit] See also

Aluminium chloride

[edit] References

1; L.C. Rowsell and L.F. Nazar, Speciation and Thermal Transformation in Alumina Sols: Structures of the Polyhydroxyoxoaluminum Cluster [Al30O8(OH)56(H2O)26]18+ and Its d-Keggin Moiety, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2000), 122(15), 3777.
2: Antiperspirants and Deodorants (Cosmetic Science & Technology) by Karl Laden and Carl B. Felger