PREPARATION OF ALUM FROM SCRAP ALUMINIUM CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT SUBMITTED BY NAME : GEDELA SRINIVASA RAMAN NAIDU CLASS : XII ‘A’CERTIFICATE This is to certify that GEDELA SRINIVASA RAMAN NAIDU, Reg. No. of class XIl of ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL, RK PURAM, SECUNDERABAD has successfully completed his / her project report in chemistry on the topic “Preparation of potash alum from scrap aluminum’ for the partial fulfillment of AISSCE as prescribed by the CBSE in the year 2023 - 2024 Viva voce held on: Registration No Signature of the Guide Signature of the Principal Signature of the Internal Examiner Signature of the External ExaminerACKNOWLEDGEMENT In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people have bestowed upon me with their blessings and heart pledged support, this time | am utilizing to thank all the people who have been concerned with the project. Primarily | would thank god for making me able to complete this project with success. Then | would like to thank my principal Ms Archaha Rai and Chemistry teacher Mrs Rani Pillai, whose instructions have served as the major contributor towards the completion of the project. Then | would like to thank my parents and friends who have helped me with their valuable suggestions and guidance and have been helpful in various phases of the completion of the project.CONTENTS Aim of the Project Introduction Uses Theory Chemical Equations Requirements Procedure Observations Results BibliographyAIM e To prepare potash alum from aluminium scrap INTRODUCTION e@ Aluminium because of its low density, high tensile strength and resistance to corrosion, it is widely used for the manufacture of aeroplanes, automobiles, lawn furniture as well as for aluminium cans. e Being a good conductor of electricity, it is used for transmission of electricity. Aluminium is also used for making utensils. The recycling of aluminium cans and other aluminium products is a very positive contribution to save our natural resources. e Most of the recycled aluminium is melted and recast into other aluminium metal products or used in the production of various aluminium compounds, the most common of which are the alums. Alums are double sulphates having the general formula X,S0,.M,(SO4);.24H,0 Where: X: Monovalent cation M: Trivalent metal Some important alums and their names are given below:- K,SO,.AL(SO,),.24H,0 - Potash Alum Na,SO,,Al,(SO,),.24H,0 + Soda Alum K,S0,.Cr,(SO,),.24H,0 - Chrome Alum (NH,),SO,.Fe(SO,),.24H,0 - Ferrie AlumUSES Potash alum is used in papermaking, in fire extinguishers, in food stuffs and in purification of water. Soda alum is used in baking powders and chrome alum is used in tanning leather and waterproofing fabrics. In addition to these primary uses, alum is also used as follows:- AS ASTRINGENT A substance or preparation that draws together or constricts body tissues and is effective in stopping the flow of blood or other secretions. Alum has also been used by conventional hairdressers for treating shaving cuts. AS MORDANT Substances used in dyeing to fix certain dyes on cloth. Either the mordant (if it is colloidal) or a colloid produced by the mordant adheres to the fibre, attracting and fixing the colloidal mordant dye. The insoluble, coloured precipitate that is formed is called a lake. Alum is a basic mordant used for fixing acid dyes FOR THE REMOVAL OF PHOSPHATES FROM NATURAL AND WASTE WATER The aluminium ions of alum combine with the orthophosphate around PH 6 to form the solid aluminium hydroxy phosphate which is precipitated FOR FIREPROOFING FABRICS The major use of alums are based on two important properties, namely precipitation of Al(OH)3 and those related to the acidity created by the production of hydrogen ions. AN(H,0), *? > AI(OH); | +3H,0 + 3H" The H+ ions generated are used for reacting with sodium bicarbonate to release CO,. This property is made use of in baking powder and CO, fire extinguishersTHEORY Aluminium metal is treated with hot aqueous KOH solution. Aluminium dissolves as potassium aluminate salt, KAI(OH), . 2Al(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H,O(!) > 2KAI(OH), (aq) + 3H, Potassium aluminate solution on treatment with dil. sulphuric acid first gives a precipitate of Al(OH); , which dissolves in addition to a small excess of H,SO, followed by heating. 2KOH(aq) + H,SO,(aq) —> 2Al(OH),(s) + K,SO,(aq) + 2H, O(!) 2Al(OH),(s) + 3 H,SO,(aq) —> Al,(SO,),(aq) +6H, (I) The resulting solution is concentrated to near saturation and cooled. On cooling, crystals of potash alum crystallize out. K,SO, (aq) + Al,(SO,),(aq) + 24H, O(!) >K,SO,.Al,(SO,),.24H,0CHEMICAL EQUATIONS ° ° 2A\(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H,O(1) + 2KAI(OH), (aq) + 3H, K,SO,(aq) + Al,(SO,),(aq) + 24H,0(|) >K,SO,.Al(SO,)s. 24H,0 2Al(OH),(s) + 3 HSO,(aq) — Al,(SO,)3(aq) +6H,0(I) 2KOH(aq) + H,SO,(aq) > 2Al(OH)3(s) + K,SO,(aq) + 2HO(1) K,SO,(aq) + Al,(SO,)s(aq) + 24H,0(I) +K,SO,.Al(SO,)s. 24H,0 REQUIREMENTS 250 ml flask Funnel Beaker Scrap aluminium or cola can Potassium hydroxide solution (KOH) 6 M Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4 ) Water Bath EthanolPROCEDURE e Clean a small piece of scrap aluminium with steel wool and cut it into very small pieces. Aluminium foil may be taken instead of scrap aluminium. e Put the small pieces of scrap aluminium or aluminium foil(about 1.00g) into a conical flask and add about 50 ml of 4 M KOH solution to dissolve the aluminium. e The flask may be heated gently in order to facilitate dissolution Since during this step hydrogen gas is evolved this step must be done in a well ventilated area. e Continue heating until all of the aluminium reacts. e Filter the solution to remove any insoluble impurities and reduce the volume to about 25 ml by heating. e — Allow the filtrate to cool. Now add slowly 6 M H2S04 until insoluble A\(OH)3 just forms in the solution. e — Gently heat the mixture until the Al(OH)3 precipitate dissolves. e Cool the resulting solution in an ice-bath for about 30 minutes whereby alum crystals should separate out. For better results the solution may be left overnight for crystallization to continue. e In case crystals do not form, the solution may be further concentrated and cooled again. e Filter the crystals from the solution using a vacuum pump, wash the crystals with 50/50 ethanol-water mixture. Continue applying the vacuum until the crystals appear dry. e Determine the mass of alum crystalsRESULT e Potash alum was prepared from aluminium scrap OBSERVATIONS — Mass of aluminium metal = g e Mass of potash alum = 9g e = Theoretical yield of potashalum = g e Percent yield = % BIBLIOGRAPHY e http : /Avww.cbseportal.com e = =Wikipedia ¢ — chemicalland.com — books.google.co.in