Viva Blu 20 Litre Liquid Aluminium Sulfate (Flocculant)
Ensure crystal-clear water with Viva Blu’s 20 Litre Liquid Aluminium Sulfate. Perfect for pool owners and water treatment businesses, this high-quality flocculant efficiently removes suspended particles, organic matter, and impurities from your water. Our formula works quickly, improving clarity and maintaining safe, balanced water. Ideal for both domestic pools and large-scale water treatment facilities, trust Viva Blu for reliable, professional-grade results every time. Keep your water sparkling clean and inviting with our dependable flocculant solution.
Best Treatment Recommendations
To achieve optimal results, follow these recommended dosages based on the volume of water to be treated:
| Volume of Water (Litres) | Amount of Flocculant (Litres) |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | 0.1 |
| 5,000 | 0.5 |
| 10,000 | 1.0 |
| 20,000 | 2.0 |
| 50,000 | 5.0 |
| 100,000 | 10.0 |
Instructions for Use:
- Measure the appropriate amount of flocculant based on the volume of water.
- Evenly distribute the flocculant across the surface of the water.
- Allow the flocculant to circulate for a few hours to ensure thorough mixing.
- After circulation, let the water sit undisturbed for several hours or overnight to allow the flocculant to bind with impurities and settle at the bottom.
- Vacuum or filter out the settled particles for clear, clean water.
For best results, adjust the dosage based on water clarity and condition. Regular use maintains optimal water quality and clarity.
Technical Reference
Technical Specifications
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Aluminium Sulfate |
| IUPAC Name | Aluminium sulphate |
| Common Names | Alum, filter alum, liquid alum, papermaker’s alum, flocculant alum |
| Molecular Formula | Al₂(SO₄)₃ |
| CAS Number | 10043-01-3 (anhydrous); 17927-65-0 (hydrated) |
| Concentration / Grade | Approximately 8–8.5% w/v Al₂O₃ equivalent (approximately 49–50% w/v aluminium sulfate solution); technical / water treatment grade |
| Physical State | Liquid |
| Appearance | Clear to pale straw-coloured, slightly viscous solution |
| Density | Approximately 1.30–1.33 g/mL at 20°C |
| pH (as supplied) | 2.0–3.5 (concentrated solution; strongly acidic) |
| Optimal Coagulation pH | 6.5–7.5 (in treated water) |
| Solubility | Fully miscible with water at supplied concentration |
| UN Number | UN 3264 |
| ADG Class | Class 8 — Corrosive Substance; Packing Group III |
| Shelf Life | 12 months from date of manufacture when stored correctly |
Applications & Use Cases
- Swimming pool water clarification: Removes colloidal turbidity, fine particulates, algal debris, and sunscreen residues from pool water; commonly used as a floc-and-vacuum treatment for rapid clarity recovery.
- Potable water treatment: Primary coagulant in municipal water treatment plants for removal of suspended solids, colour, and dissolved organic matter prior to filtration. Compliant with AS/NZS 4020 and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) requirements when used at appropriate dose rates.
- Wastewater and trade waste treatment: Phosphorus removal and suspended solids reduction in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment systems.
- Stormwater treatment: Turbidity and sediment control in construction site stormwater management systems and retention ponds.
- Irrigation dam and farm water treatment: Clarification of turbid bore water, dam water, and irrigation channels supplying horticultural and agricultural operations.
- Aquaculture: Pond turbidity management and solids removal in fish and prawn farming operations.
- Paper and pulp manufacturing: Sizing agent and retention aid in paper production processes.
- Industrial process water: Coagulation pre-treatment for cooling tower make-up water, boiler feed water pre-treatment, and reverse osmosis pre-treatment systems.
- Sludge dewatering: Conditioning agent to improve filterability and dewaterability of biological and chemical sludges.
Dosing Rates & Guidelines
| Application | Minimum Effective Dose | Maximum Recommended Dose | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential swimming pool — maintenance clarification | 30 | 50 | mL per 10,000 L pool volume | Broadcast over pool surface with pump running; allow floc to settle overnight (8–12 hours); vacuum to waste. Do not run through filter media. pH should be 7.0–7.4 prior to treatment. |
| Residential swimming pool — heavy turbidity / recovery | 50 | 100 | mL per 10,000 L pool volume | For severely turbid or post-algae-bloom conditions. May require repeat treatment and vacuum to waste. Monitor and correct pH after treatment as alum is acidic and will depress pH. |
| Commercial pool / aquatic centre | 2 | 10 | mg/L (ppm) as Al₂O₃ equivalent | Continuous or shock dosing via chemical dosing pump. Jar testing recommended to establish site-specific optimum dose. Adjust pH to 6.8–7.2 prior to coagulation for best floc formation. |
| Potable water treatment — low turbidity (<10 NTU) | 5 | 20 | mg/L as Al₂O₃ | Jar testing essential. Optimum coagulation pH 6.5–7.0. Dose point upstream of rapid mix zone. Residual aluminium in treated water must comply with ADWG guideline value of 0.1 mg/L (health) / 0.2 mg/L (aesthetic). |
| Potable water treatment — high turbidity (>10 NTU) | 20 | 80 | mg/L as Al₂O₃ | Higher turbidity typically requires higher dose. Jar testing is mandatory for optimisation. Consider pH correction with lime or caustic soda to maintain optimal coagulation pH. |
| Wastewater / trade waste — phosphorus removal | 100 | 300 | mg/L as liquid product | Molar ratio of Al:P typically 1.5:1 to 3:1. Dose rate is highly dependent on influent phosphorus concentration and target effluent standard. Monitoring of effluent Al residual required. |
| Dam / irrigation water clarification | 10 | 50 | mL per 1,000 L water volume | Dilute 1:10 with water before application. Broadcast diluted solution while agitating water body where possible. Allow 24–48 hours settling time. Check pH; may require lime addition to buffer acidity. |
| Stormwater retention pond | 20 | 100 | mg/L as liquid product | Dose rates depend on inflow turbidity and flow rate. Continuous dosing preferred. Effluent discharge must comply with relevant state EPA licence conditions for aluminium residual and pH. |
Note: All dosing rates are indicative and based on standard Australian industry practice. Site-specific conditions including raw water quality, temperature, pH, alkalinity, and organic loading will influence optimum dose rates. Jar testing is strongly recommended for any new application or when source water characteristics change significantly.
Dilution Instructions
Liquid aluminium sulfate is supplied as a concentrated, strongly acidic solution (pH 2.0–3.5). Always handle with full PPE. Follow these steps for safe dilution and application:
- Equipment required: Chemical-resistant HDPE or polypropylene measuring container, HDPE dosing vessel or bucket, calibrated measuring device (graduated cylinder or dosing pump), nitrile or PVC gloves, chemical splash goggles, acid-resistant apron.
- Step 1 — Prepare dilution vessel: Use a clean, dry HDPE or polypropylene container rated for corrosive chemical use. Do not use galvanised steel, aluminium, or mild steel containers — liquid alum will react with these metals, generating hydrogen gas and causing container failure.
- Step 2 — Add water first: Measure the required volume of clean, ambient-temperature water and add it to the dilution vessel first. For general pre-dilution, a 1:10 ratio (1 part product to 9 parts water) is recommended prior to broadcast application. Never add water to the concentrated product — always add the concentrated product to the water to minimise the risk of exothermic splashing.
- Step 3 — Add product slowly: Carefully measure the required volume of liquid aluminium sulfate and slowly add it to the water while stirring gently. Avoid splashing. The dilution is mildly exothermic; avoid using very cold water as this increases viscosity and slows dispersion.
- Step 4 — Mix thoroughly: Stir or agitate gently until homogeneous. The diluted solution is ready for application.
- Step 5 — Apply promptly: Diluted solutions should be applied promptly. Do not store diluted product for extended periods as dilution reduces stability.
- Step 6 — Flush equipment: Rinse all measuring and mixing equipment thoroughly with clean water after use. Dispose of washings to an appropriate drain or waste stream in accordance with site procedures and local council trade waste requirements.
- For continuous dosing systems: Liquid aluminium sulfate may be dosed neat (undiluted) via a chemical metering pump into a high-flow water stream. Ensure adequate mixing downstream of the dose point. Compatible pump materials include PVDF, polypropylene, or Viton-lined diaphragm pumps. Avoid natural rubber, carbon steel, or zinc-coated components.
Chemical Compatibility
Compatible With
- Water (fully miscible; primary diluent)
- Polyacrylamide-based flocculant aids (anionic polyelectrolytes) — commonly used in sequence after alum coagulation to aid floc aggregation and settling
- Chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) at normal pool or water treatment concentrations — compatible when dosed at separate points with adequate mixing; avoid direct mixing in undiluted form
- Lime (calcium hydroxide) or sodium carbonate — used to buffer pH depression caused by alum addition; add separately and allow mixing before monitoring pH
Incompatible With — Do Not Mix
- Strong alkalis (caustic soda / sodium hydroxide, concentrated lime slurry): Direct mixing causes violent precipitation of aluminium hydroxide and significant heat generation. Always dose at separate points in the treatment process.
- Cationic polyelectrolytes / cationic flocculants: Direct mixing of aluminium sulfate with cationic polymers can cause precipitation and loss of coagulation efficacy. Dose sequentially with adequate mixing intervals.
- Galvanised steel, zinc, aluminium, and mild steel containers and fittings: Highly acidic solution aggressively corrodes these metals, producing hydrogen gas and compromising container integrity. Use HDPE, polypropylene, fibreglass, or rubber-lined vessels only.
- Concentrated phosphate solutions: Can form insoluble aluminium phosphate precipitates in the dosing line — avoid co-dosing in the same line.
- Fluoride-containing compounds: Aluminium reacts with fluoride to form aluminium fluoride complexes, which can interfere with coagulation performance and are toxic at elevated concentrations.
- Oxidising acids (nitric acid, perchloric acid): Risk of violent reaction. Never mix concentrated alum solution with strong oxidising agents.
- Organic solvents: Not compatible; may cause phase separation and loss of solution stability.
Safety & Handling
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Gloves: Chemical-resistant nitrile (minimum 0.38 mm thickness) or PVC gloves. Nitrile is preferred for splash resistance. Inspect gloves for integrity before each use.
- Eye and face protection: Chemical splash goggles (AS/NZS 1337.1 compliant) are mandatory when handling undiluted product. A full face shield (AS/NZS 1337.1) is recommended where splash risk is elevated (e.g., decanting, connecting hoses, pump maintenance).
- Body protection: Acid-resistant apron or chemical-resistant coveralls. Avoid open-toe footwear — wear chemical-resistant boots or overshoes when handling in bulk.
- Respiratory protection: Not required under normal conditions with adequate ventilation. If mist or aerosol is generated during dosing operations, use a half-face respirator fitted with an acid gas/particulate combination cartridge (AS/NZS 1715/1716 compliant).
Storage Requirements
- Store in original sealed HDPE container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
- Storage temperature: 5°C to 35°C. Avoid freezing — product may crystallise below approximately 0°C; warm gently to redissolve before use.
- Segregate from strong bases, oxidising agents, and incompatible metals as listed above.
- Store on a bunded, acid-resistant secondary containment pallet capable of retaining 110% of the largest container volume.
- Label containers clearly. Do not decant into unlabelled containers.
- Keep containers tightly sealed when not in use to prevent absorption of moisture and contamination.




