What Are The Uses Of Aluminium Chloride Hexahydrate?
Aluminium chloride hexahydrate (AlCl3·6H2O) is a hydrated form of aluminium chloride, which is a white to yellowish crystalline solid. It has several uses in various industries and research fields, including:
1. Chemical synthesis: Aluminium chloride hexahydrate is commonly used as a Lewis acid catalyst in organic chemistry, particularly in the Friedel-Crafts acylation and alkylation reactions.
2. Water treatment: It is also useful for water purification and sewage treatment due to its ability to coagulate suspended particles in water, making them easier to remove.
3. Antiperspirants: Aluminium chloride hexahydrate is a key ingredient in antiperspirant products which helps to reduce sweat by blocking sweat ducts.
4. Wood preservation: It can be used as a wood preservative due to its ability to penetrate deeply into the wood fibers, making it more resistant to decay and insect damage.
5. Dyeing industry: AlCl3·6H2O is used in the dyeing industry for fixing dyes to fabrics.
6. Petroleum refining: In petroleum refining, it is used as a catalyst in cracking reactions to break down larger hydrocarbons into smaller ones.
7. Pharmaceuticals: Aluminium chloride hexahydrate is used in some pharmaceutical formulations as an astringent, hemostatic agent, and wound disinfectant.
Overall, Aluminium chloride hexahydrate has a wide range of applications across many industries, from chemical synthesis to water treatment, and from antiperspirants to wood preservation.