What is alum used for?!
What is alum used for?
I am making play dough and I want to know if I really have to buy it or if it is a ingredient I can just forget and exclude!
Answers:
Shaving alum is a powdered form of alum used as an astringent to prevent bleeding from small shaving cuts. The styptic pencils sold for this purpose contain aluminium sulfate or potassium aluminium sulfate. Similar products are also used on animals to prevent bleeding after nail-clipping. Alum in block form (usually potassium alum) is used as an aftershave, rubbed over the wet freshly shaved face.
Crystal deodorant: Alum was used in the past as a natural underarm deodorant in Europe, Mexico, Thailand, the Far East and in the Philippines where it is called Tawas. It is now commercially sold for this purpose in many countries, often in a plastic case that protects the crystal and makes it resemble other non-liquid deodorants. Typically potassium alum is used.
Alum powder, found amongst spices at most grocery stores, is used in pickling recipes as a preservative, to maintain crispness, and as an ingredient in some play dough recipes. It is also commonly cited as a home remedy or pain relief for canker sores.
Water treatment: Alum (aluminium sulfate) is used in water treatment. The addition of alum to raw water causes small particles and colloids to stick together and form heavier particles (floc) which will settle in water. This process is called coagulation or flocculation.
Fire retardant: By soaking and then drying cloth and paper materials they can be made fireproof.
Wax: Alum is used in the Middle East as a component in wax, compounded with other ingredients to create a hair-removal substance.
Foamite: Alum is used to make foamite which is used in many fire extinguishers for chemical and oil fires.
Adjuvant: Alum is used regularly as an adjuvant (enhances immune response to a given immunogen when given with it) in human immunizations.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/alum...
alum rock?!
if it's in the recipe then it probably should be used.
alum: Consisting of crystals of potassium aluminum sulfate, alum was commonly used in canning before it was discovered that it can cause gastric distress in some individuals. Although still considered safe in small quantities, depending on individual tolerance, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) no longer recommends its use for home canning. In Chinese cuisine, alum is one of the ingredients traditionally used to make deep-fried crullers.
i made play dough once i used this:
http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/activi...
Alum is usually used in pickling. You can find it in the spice section at the grocery.
There are many formulas for playdough. Just google 'playdough recipe'
Alum is great for making salt crystals! http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/...
Alum is used as a cure agent for drying animal pelts/it dries out the skins