Poly aluminium chloride 30% (PAC 30%) is a water-treatment coagulant sold with a minimum of about 30% aluminium oxide (Al2O3). To specify it, state the Al2O3 content, the basicity, the physical form, water insolubles, pH and heavy metal limits, plus the standard for the use, such as drinking water or industrial effluent.
A search for PAC price per kg is common, but this article gives no price. It explains what the specification means and what moves the quote.
What the 30% refers to
The figure refers to Al2O3, not to PAC as a whole. It is a convention for expressing aluminium content, so a 30% product holds roughly 16% aluminium by weight. Two suppliers can both say 30% and deliver different products if the basicity differs.
Always write the number as a minimum Al2O3 content measured by a named method, and state whether the figure is for powder or liquid. Liquid PAC is normally sold at a much lower Al2O3 content than powder, so compare like with like.
Basicity and form
Basicity describes how far the aluminium chloride has been partly neutralised. It changes how the coagulant behaves in the water you treat, including how well it works at low temperature and how much alkalinity it consumes.
Powder is usually either spray-dried, which is light in colour and dissolves quickly, or drum-dried, which is darker and less expensive to make. Ask for the colour, the solubility and the bulk density. Test the sample in your own water with a jar test, since the best grade depends on the raw water.
Impurities and standards
Check these in the specification:
- Water insolubles, which cause sludge and blocked dosing lines.
- Iron and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and cadmium, with limits suited to your use.
- pH of a solution at a stated concentration.
- For potable water, conformity to the standard that applies in the destination, such as an EN standard in Europe or NSF/ANSI 60 in the United States. Confirm with the water authority or certifier.
Our guide on water-treatment chemicals from India covers the wider family, and testing a specialty chemical's performance explains how to compare grades.
What moves the price
- Aluminium raw materials, hydrochloric acid and energy for drying.
- Form and finish: spray-dried powder costs more to make than drum-dried powder or liquid.
- Tighter limits on insolubles and heavy metals.
- Packing, freight and insurance, which weigh more for liquids because of the water they carry.
- Order size and delivery terms.
Storage and dosing
PAC powder takes up moisture from the air and can cake, so keep bags sealed and dry. Liquid PAC is acidic and corrosive, so use compatible tanks and pumps. Follow the safety data sheet for handling and personal protection.
Ask the supplier for dosing advice, but confirm it with your own jar test, because the best dose depends on your raw water, temperature and pH. Re-test each new lot against the sample you approved.
Next step
Send every supplier the same specification and a request for a jar test sample. We find and audit manufacturers, check samples and documents, and have lots tested. For a real quote, book a free sourcing review.