Aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) is the highest-basicity, highest-Al2O3 coagulant in the polyaluminium family, and choosing it can transform coagulation performance in water treatment, mining and papermaking. With more than 23% Al2O3 and 82–85% basicity, ACH delivers stronger charge neutralisation, lower dosages and a negligible effect on pH compared with alum, aluminium chloride and standard PAC products. For Australian and international operators who must do more with less water and keep discharge within strict environmental limits, ACH offers a stable, low-sludge, cost-efficient route to clearer water and cleaner process streams. This guide explains what ACH is, why its high basicity matters, and how to select, dose and store it for municipal water treatment, industrial wastewater, mining, oilfield injection water and papermaking. Recent bulk shipments — including 16 drums dispatched to a distributor serving the Australian market — underline the growing global demand for high-performance ACH. With flexible packaging and proven export logistics, it is equally suited to distributors and large industrial plants.
Aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) is a highly polymerised, water-soluble aluminium-based coagulant with the formula Al2(OH)5Cl·2H2O and a molecular weight of 210.48 g/mol. It belongs to the polyaluminium (PAC) family but sits at its performance peak: it carries the highest Al2O3 content and the highest basicity of any commercially available aluminium-based solution. In effect, ACH is a pre-polymerised aluminium salt, so its active species are already partially neutralised and ready to work the moment they enter the water.
Typical properties (liquid, water-treatment grade):
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | Al2(OH)5Cl·2H2O |
| Al2O3 content | >23% |
| Basicity (w/w) | 82–85% |
| Density | 1.30–1.38 g/ml |
| Water insoluble | ≤0.1% |
| Chloride (Cl) | <9.0% |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤100 ppm |
| pH (15% solution) | 3.0–5.0 |
Basicity explained. Basicity measures the degree of acid neutralisation and how highly polymerised the aluminium is. At 82–85%, ACH is far more polymerised than alum or aluminium chloride, so its cationic species carry a much stronger positive charge.
Blending. ACH can be blended with organic polymers such as PolyDADMAC or polyamine to sharpen performance in demanding streams, and it is supplied as a ready-to-use liquid that is simple to dose.
Unlike simple metal salts, which must first react with the water's natural alkalinity before they can form flocs, ACH arrives pre-reacted. Its aluminium is already organised into large, stable, positively charged polymers, which is exactly the form that captures colloidal particles most effectively. That is why ACH works almost instantly and performs predictably even in cold, low-alkalinity or lightly buffered water where traditional coagulants struggle.
Because the chemistry is so stable, ACH keeps its properties in storage and through the dosing line, so a plant gets consistent results from the first litre to the last. The product is a clear to slightly turbid liquid that mixes readily with water and is metered with standard chemical dosing pumps, so no special make-up equipment is required.
Coagulation is the front line of any water-treatment or process-water system. If it underperforms, everything downstream — filters, membranes, clarifiers, thickeners and discharge quality — pays the price. ACH is engineered to win that front line, and its advantages are directly measurable.
Highest aluminium concentration. At more than 23% Al2O3, ACH is the most concentrated aluminium-based solution available, so less product is needed to deliver the same active dose. That means lower freight, lower storage and lower handling costs per cubic metre of water treated.
Highest basicity, strongest charge. The highly polymerised species in ACH carry far higher cationic charges than the aluminium in alum or standard PAC, so they neutralise the negative charge on suspended particles more efficiently and form denser, faster-settling flocs.
Negligible pH impact. Because ACH is already heavily neutralised, it barely moves the pH of the treated water — a major advantage where tight pH control is required and where adding alkali is expensive or impractical.
Lower sludge, lower iron. ACH produces less water-insoluble sludge and carries low iron, reducing disposal volume and avoiding the discolouration that iron-rich coagulants can cause.
These benefits translate into real gains across the target industries:
Total cost of ownership, not unit price, is what should drive the choice. Because ACH is so concentrated, the delivered cost per kilogram of active Al2O3 is competitive, and the savings compound through lower freight, less storage, smaller dosing equipment, reduced sludge handling and less pH correction. For large municipal and industrial plants, those secondary savings often outweigh the headline chemical price.
In water-scarce Australia, where mines and towns alike are pressed to recover and reuse every possible litre, faster clarification and lower sludge volumes directly increase the water available for reuse and reduce the load on thickeners, clarifiers and filters. For papermakers, ACH doubles as an effective sizing agent and process-water clarifier, while in oilfield service it helps protect injection wells from plugging by fine particles.
As water scarcity and discharge limits tighten across Australia and worldwide, a low-dose, high-performance coagulant is no longer optional — it is central to cost control and compliance.
ACH is simple to use, but getting the most from it still rewards a structured approach. Follow these steps to move from a datasheet to a validated program.
Establish the raw-water or wastewater quality: turbidity, colour, suspended solids, pH, alkalinity, temperature and any seasonal variation. Mining and oilfield streams often carry fine clays and silts that demand strong charge neutralisation, while papermaking streams bring their own fibre and filler loads. Take samples over time, not just once, because storms, seasonal blooms and process changes can shift water quality and move the optimum dose. For industrial sites, also note any upstream or downstream chemical additions, especially other coagulants, alkali or oxidants, that could interact with ACH.
Because ACH is concentrated, start with low test doses and bracket upwards, comparing performance against your current coagulant on the same water. Measure treated turbidity, floc size and settling rate, and note the settling time, not just the final clarity. Run a control test with your existing coagulant so the comparison is fair, and record dosing in millilitres per litre so results transfer easily to plant scale.
In demanding cases, combine ACH with an organic polymer such as PolyDADMAC or polyamine. ACH delivers the charge neutralisation that destabilises the particles, while the polymer bridges the flocs into larger, tougher masses that settle faster and dewater better. Sequence matters: add ACH first for charge neutralisation, allow rapid mix, then introduce the polymer under slower mixing so it can bridge the flocs without being sheared apart.
Once the working dose is known, calibrate metering pumps and set a control range. Because ACH barely shifts pH, operators can usually dose without pH correction, simplifying the plant and reducing chemical use. Automate with online turbidity or streaming-current monitoring where possible, and review the setpoint whenever raw-water quality changes seasonally.
ACH is supplied in 275 kg plastic drums, 1,350 kg IBC drums or as a 25 MT flexitank in a 20-foot container. Keep it sealed in a dry, ventilated place away from rain, high temperature and strong sunlight. As a slightly acidic product, it must never be stored with alkaline substances such as bleach or lime, or it will fail. Avoid skin and eye contact and inhalation of spray. Always dose ACH through corrosion-resistant wetted parts, and never allow it to contact alkaline chemicals in shared lines or bunds.
| Application | Role of ACH |
|---|---|
| Drinking water & wastewater | Primary coagulant, low dose, minimal pH shift |
| Mining & mineral processing | Clarification and water recovery |
| Papermaking | Sizing agent and process-water clarifier |
| Oilfield injection water | Fines removal to protect wells |
Full-scale validation is the final checkpoint: once ACH is running, monitor treated turbidity, chemical consumption and sludge volume for several weeks before declaring the change permanent, and keep spare drums or an IBC on hand so an unexpected surge never interrupts treatment.
ACH is used mainly as a high-performance coagulant for drinking-water and industrial wastewater treatment, but it is also applied in mining and mineral processing, oilfield injection-water treatment, as a papermaking sizing agent, and in antiperspirants. Its high charge and high basicity make it effective at low doses across a wide range of water and process streams.
ACH is the most polymerised member of the polyaluminium family. It carries the highest Al2O3 content (over 23%) and the highest basicity (82–85%), giving stronger cationic charge, lower dosages and a negligible effect on pH compared with alum, aluminium chloride or standard PAC. It also produces less sludge and contains low iron.
Because ACH is highly concentrated, dosages are lower than for conventional coagulants, but the optimum depends entirely on the water. Always establish the dose with jar tests on the actual stream, starting low and bracketing upward, and measure both settling rate and treated turbidity to confirm performance.
Yes. ACH blends well with organic polymers such as PolyDADMAC or polyamine, which can improve performance in difficult streams. The ACH supplies strong charge neutralisation while the polymer bridges flocs for faster settling and better dewatering. Never store ACH with alkaline substances like bleach or lime.
Liquid ACH is supplied in 275 kg plastic drums, 1,350 kg IBC drums, or as a 25 MT flexitank inside a 20-foot container. This flexibility lets distributors and large plants buy in the volume that suits them, from drum lots to full flexitank shipments delivered to ports worldwide.
ACH is a low-hazard, non-poisonous product, but it is slightly acidic. Store it sealed in a dry, ventilated place away from rain, heat and strong sunlight, and well away from alkalis. Wear appropriate protective equipment, avoid skin and eye contact and inhalation, and follow the safety data sheet at all times.
Aluminum chlorohydrate is the premium choice in the polyaluminium family: the highest Al2O3 content, the highest basicity, the strongest cationic charge and a negligible impact on pH. For water treatment, mining, oilfield and papermaking operators in Australia and worldwide, that combination means lower dosing, less sludge, stable operation and cleaner water — at a lower overall cost. Choose a supplier who backs the product with clear specifications, flexible packaging and genuine export experience, jar-test the dose on your own water, and store ACH correctly. Do that, and high-basicity ACH becomes one of the most reliable and cost-effective tools in your treatment program.
