A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →Polyaluminum chloride (PAC, PACl, CAS 1327-41-9) is a pre-hydrolyzed, high-efficiency aluminum coagulant for drinking-water and wastewater treatment. Because it is already partially neutralized (basic), it coagulates over a wider pH range than alum, works better in cold or low-alkalinity water, consumes less alkalinity, and produces less sludge.
Polyaluminum Chloride: Applications & Grades
PAC is dosed as a primary coagulant for turbidity, color, and organics removal and for phosphorus control. Its performance is set by two numbers: % Al2O3 (strength) and basicity (degree of pre-neutralization) — higher basicity means less pH depression and better cold-water flocculation. Drinking-water grades meet NSF/ANSI 60 and AWWA B408.
PAC vs Alum
PAC (general form Aln(OH)mCl3n−m) is pre-hydrolyzed during manufacture, so the reactive aluminum species already exist before dosing — coagulation starts immediately and depends less on water temperature and alkalinity than alum:
For the conventional alternatives, see aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride. PAC and these coagulants are often paired with a polyacrylamide flocculant as the bridging aid for clarification and dewatering.
Grades Compared
Match the grade to your water temperature, alkalinity, and feed system:
Applications by Sector
- Drinking water. Turbidity and natural-organic-matter removal with low residual aluminum and minimal pH adjustment.
- Municipal & industrial wastewater. Primary coagulation, phosphorus removal, and clarification ahead of flocculation and dewatering.
- Paper. Sizing, retention, and pitch control.
- Oil/water & process streams. Emulsion breaking and solids removal.
Switching from alum or need a specific basicity? Send your water temperature, alkalinity, and dose on an RFQ for the right PAC.
Regulatory & registration requirements
- TSCA (US):
- REACH (EU):
- EC number: 215-477-2
Source: EPA TSCA Inventory (July 2025 release) · ECHA CHEM — retrieved 2026-07-12
Frequently Asked Questions
What is polyaluminum chloride (PAC) used for?
PAC is a pre-hydrolyzed aluminum coagulant for drinking-water and wastewater treatment — turbidity, color, organics, and phosphorus removal. It coagulates over a wider pH range than alum, performs better in cold water, uses less alkalinity, and makes less sludge. RawSource supplies NSF/ANSI 60 grades.
PAC vs alum — what’s the difference?
PAC is partially pre-neutralized (“basic”), so it depresses pH far less than alum, needs less or no supplemental alkalinity, flocculates better in cold/low-alkalinity water, and generates less sludge — usually at a lower dose. Alum is cheaper per pound. Many plants switch to PAC for performance and reduced chemical handling.
What do Al2O3 % and basicity mean for PAC?
Al2O3 % is the aluminum strength (dose basis); basicity is how pre-neutralized the product is (higher = less pH drop, better cold-water performance). A high-basicity PAC suits cold or low-alkalinity water; a standard PAC suits general use. Match both to your water on the RFQ, and bracket the dose with a jar test before committing to bulk volume.
How is PAC supplied in bulk?
RawSource supplies polyaluminum chloride as liquid (10–18% Al2O3) in bulk and totes, or spray-dried powder (28–30%) in supersacks, under CAS 1327-41-9. Grade, Al2O3/basicity, packaging, and MOQ confirmed at quotation against the CoA. Submit a bulk RFQ.
What is the REACH and TSCA regulatory status of Polyaluminum Chloride (PAC)?
Polyaluminum Chloride (PAC) (CAS 1327-41-9) is subject to U.S. TSCA Inventory requirements; supplying it into the EU requires valid REACH registration ((EC) No 1907/2006). RawSource cannot verify a third-party supplier's registrations — buyers should require documented TSCA and REACH compliance for their jurisdiction and volume (EC 215-477-2).