Polyaluminum Chloride Supply Chain - Executive Summary

Polyaluminum Chloride

Direct Use Chemical

(multiple polymeric compounds)
(liquid or solid) 0

Inputs to Manufacturing Process:
Aluminum Hydroxide
Hydrochloric Acid

^ % of Total Domestic Consumption
Attributed to Water Sector:
Greater than 10%

J* Derivative Water Treatment Chemicals:	Understanding Chemical Supply Chains

None

Map of Suppliers & Manufacturers

A. Product Family:
"• Aluminum
Chlor-alkali

CAS No.: 1327-41-9

2 Shelf Life:
12 Months

— RISK OF SUPPLY DISRUPTION (Assessed in 2022)

RISK RATING: Moderate-Low

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RISK DRIVERS

Production of polyaluminum
chloride depends on supply of
hydrochloric acid, aluminum
hydroxide and bauxite. The
U.S. is entirely dependent on
import of bauxite to produce
aluminum hydroxide, which
has experienced historic price
volatility. Supply of
hydrochloric acid is dependent
on availability of chlorine.

RISK PARAMETERS

Criticality: High. Essential and widely

used for coagulation.

Likelihood: Low. No history of supply
disruptions between 2000 and 2022.
Vulnerability: Moderate-High. Strong
domestic manufacturing provides some
resilience; however, the U.S. is
dependent on imports of bauxite for
production of aluminum hydroxide,
and dependent on chlorine production
for supply of hydrochloric acid.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Water T reatment Applications

•	Coagulation

•	Sludge dewatering

Other Applications

•	Paper manufacturing

•	Textile production

•	Antiperspirant/deodorant

•	Chemical manufacturing

DOMESTIC PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION, AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Domestic Manufacturing Locations (2015):
12, distributed throughout the U.S.

(^) International Trade (2019)

Primary Trading Partner (Imports): India
Primary Trading Partner (Exports): Canada

Domestic Consumption (2019):

66 M kg

¦	Domestic Production (66 M kg)

¦	Imports for Consumption (7 M kg)

¦	Export of Domestic Production (7 M kg)

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Polyaluminum Chloride Supply Chain - Full Profile

Product Description

Polyaluminum chlorides are a class of aluminum-based, inorganic polymeric chemicals containing aluminum,
chloride, and hydroxide with a range of aluminum to chloride ratios. Polyaluminum chlorides are primarily used
for coagulation in water and wastewater treatment and may be custom formulated as part of a trademarked
blend of mixed aluminum polymers for this purpose. Water treatment applications are among the most
common uses of polyaluminum chlorides in the U.S.

Use in Water Treatment

Polyaluminum chlorides are utilized directly in primary coagulation in drinking water and municipal wastewater
treatment. Polyaluminum chlorides are also used in sludge dewatering applications (AWWA, 2010).

Use as a Precursor to Other Water Treatment Chemicals

Polyaluminum chlorides are not used to manufacture other water treatment chemicals.

Other Applications

Polyaluminum chlorides have a wide range of applications, including production of paper and textiles, cleaning
products, personal care products such as antiperspirants and deodorants, adhesives and binding agents, and as
one of many chemicals in drilling fluid used for hydraulic fracturing (EPA, 2020; Gulbrandsen Technologies, n.d.;
Kemira, n.d.).

Primary Industrial Consumers

The primary domestic uses of polyaluminum chlorides are water and wastewater treatment including industrial
wastewater treatment, paper and textile production, antiperspirant and deodorant production, and chemical
manufacturing (EPA, 2020; Gulbrandsen Technologies, n.d.; Kemira, n.d.).

Manufacturing, Transport, & Storage

Manufacturing Process

A variety of processes exist for producing polyaluminum chlorides. Manufacturing technique may depend on the
basicity (i.e., the hydroxide to aluminum ratio) and strength (i.e., percent aluminum oxide) required in the final
formulation. Inputs include a source of aluminum and hydrochloric acid. Generally, low basicity formulas are
produced through a reaction of aluminum hydroxide with hydrochloric acid or aluminum chloride. For water
treatment applications where a higher-basicity formula is desired, additional steps are required. Additional steps
to produce high basicity polyaluminum chloride are characterized by use of one of two primary, conventional
methods. The first method relies on the reaction of the low-basicity polyaluminum chloride or aluminum
chloride with a base, such as sodium hydroxide. The second method utilizes the reaction of low-basicity
polyaluminum chloride or aluminum chloride or hydrochloric acid with aluminum metal. Additional reactions
between hydrochloric acid or aluminum chloride or low-basicity polyaluminum chloride with aluminum metal
can produce an ultra-high-basicity polyaluminum chloride. The ultra-high basicity polyaluminum chloride is
known as aluminum chlorohydrate (AWWA, 2010; Shen and Dempsey, 1998).

Product Transport

Polyaluminum chlorides, primarily supplied as a solution but also available as a solid or powder, are widely
transported in container and bulk by truck, rail, barge, and ship (GEO Specialty Chemicals, 2015; Kemira, 2014).

EPA 817-F-22-037 | December 2022

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Polyaluminum Chloride Supply Chain - Full Profile

Storage and Shelf Life

Polyaluminum chlorides should be stored in a tightly closed container and kept indoors or above freezing. When
stored properly, polyaluminum chlorides can have a shelf life of approximately 12 months, depending on
storage conditions and mixture components (GEO Specialty Chemicals, 2015; Kemira, 2014).

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic Production

Production data was collected from the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
while trade data was collected from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Dataweb, as characterized
in Table 1. While production data is specific to polyaluminum chlorides, this class of chemicals may be identified
by several Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers. Similarly, import and export of polyaluminum chlorides
may be classified by several trade categories, none of which are specific to polyaluminum chlorides. Two
commonly used trade categories are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Polyaluminum Chloride Production and Trade Data Sources

Production and Trade Data

Category

Data Source

Identifier

Description

Domestic Production

2020 TSCA Chemical Data Reporting

CAS No.: 1327-41-9

Polyaluminum Chloride

Imports and Exports

U.S. International Trade Commission

HS Code: 2827.32
HS Code: 2827.49

Aluminum Chlorides
Other Chloride, Oxides,
and Hydroxides

Total U.S. domestic manufacturing of polyaluminum chloride as defined by the CAS number in Table 1, was
approximately 66 million kilograms (M kg) in 2019 (EPA, 2020). The majority of reported domestic commercial
manufacture of polyaluminum chloride takes place at facilities owned by a relatively small number of companies
including Chemtrade, GEO Specialty Chemicals, Kemira Water Solutions, and USALCO (EPA, 2020). GEO Specialty
Chemicals reported largest percentage of total domestic polyaluminum chloride production in 2019. The
number of domestic manufacturing locations shown in Figure 1 represents operating facilities as of 2015. Supply
of NSF/ANSI Standard 60 certified polyaluminum chloride for use in drinking water treatment is widely
distributed throughout the U.S. (NSF International, 2021). For a more current listing of manufacturing locations
and supplier locations, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Chemical Locator Tool (EPA,
2022a).

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PolyaIuminum Chloride Supply Chain - hull Profile

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Domestic Supply and Manufacturing of Polyaluminum Chloride
O 140 NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Certified Suppliers (NSF International, 2021)
9 12 Domestic Manufacturing Locations (EPA Chemical Data Reporting, 2016)

Figure 1. Domestic Supply and Manufacturing of Polyaluminum Chloride
Do mesti c Co nsu rn pti o n

U.S. consumption of polyaluminum chloride in 2019 is estimated at 66 M kg. This estimate includes production
of 66 M kg, import of 7 M kg, minus export of 7 M kg (EPA, 2020; USITC, 2021), as shown in Figure 2. Imports
and exports represent trade of aluminum chlorides (HS Code 2827.32), while production data is specific to
polyaluminum chloride.

Domestic Consumption (2019):

66 M kg

¦	Domestic Production (66 M kg)

¦	Imports for Consumption (7 M kg)

¦	Export of Domestic Production (7 M kg)

Figure 2. Domestic Production and Consumption of Polyaluminum Chloride in 2019

Trade & Tariffs

Worldwide Trade

Worldwide import and export data for polyaluminum chlorides are reported through the World Bank's World

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Polyaluminum Chloride Supply Chain - Full Profile

Integrated Trade Solutions (WITS) software across multiple categories. Trade data reviewed in Table 2
represents trade data for the category of aluminum chlorides (HS Code 2827.32). In 2021, U.S. ranked 63rd
worldwide in total exports and 12th in total imports of aluminum chlorides. In 2021, India ranked first worldwide
in total exports while Indonesia ranked first in total imports (WITS, 2022), as shown in Table 2.

Table 2. WITS Worldwide Export and Import of Aluminum Chlorides, including Polyaluminum Chlorides in 2021

2021 Worldwide Trade
Aluminum Chlorides (HS Code 2827.32)

Top 5 Worldwide Exporters

Top 5 Worldwide Importers

India

90 M kg

Indonesia

43 M kg

Netherlands

52 M kg

Malaysia

36 M kg

Germany

49 M kg

Italy

24 M kg

Austria

34 M kg

Germany

21 M kg

Spain

28 M kg

Norway

18 M kg

Domestic Imports and Exports

Domestic import and export data are reported by USITC in categories specific to aluminum chlorides. Figure 3
summarizes imports for consumption1 and domestic exports2 of aluminum chlorides (HS Code 2827.32)
between 2015 and 2020. During this period, the overall quantities of exports and imports fluctuated, with
domestic exports consistently exceeding imports for consumption. Over this five-year period, Canada was the
primary recipient of domestic exports while India was the primary source of imports for consumption (USITC,
2021).

Domestic Trade of Aluminum Chlorides
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¦	Imports from Other Countries	Exports to Other Countries

Figure 3. USITC Domestic Import and Export of Aluminum Chlorides, including Polyaluminum Chlorides
between 2015 and 2020

1	Imports for consumption are a subset of general imports, representing the total amount cleared through customs and entering
consumption channels, not anticipated to be reshipped to foreign points, but may include some reexports.

2	Domestic exports are a subset of total exports, representing export of domestic merchandise which are produced or manufactured in
the U.S. and commodities of foreign origin which have been changed in the U.S.

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Polyaluminum Chloride Supply Chain - Full Profile

Tariffs

There is no general duty for import of polyaluminum chlorides as imported under HS code 2827.32 (aluminum
chlorides). There is a 5.5% general duty for import of polyaluminum chlorides as categorized under HS code
2827.49 (other chloride oxides and hydroxides) (USITC, 2022), and an additional 25% duty on imports from
China under both trade categories, as summarized in Table 3.

Table 3. Domestic Tariff Schedule for Aluminum Chlorides, including Polyaluminum Chlorides, in 2022

HS Code

General Duty

Additional Duty - China (Section 301 Tariff List)

Special Duty

2827.32

None

25%

None

2827.49

5.5%

25%

None

Market History & Risk Evaluation

History of Shortages

There were no identified polyaluminum chloride domestic supply chain disruptions that impacted the water
sector between 2000 and 2022.

Risk Evaluation

The complete risk assessment methodology is described in Understanding Water Treatment Chemical Supply
Chains and the Risk of Disruptions (EPA, 2022b). The risk rating is calculated as the product of the following three
risk parameters:

Risk = Criticality x Likelihood x Vulnerability
Criticality	Measure of the importance of a chemical to the water sector

Likelihood Measure of the probability that the chemical will experience a supply disruption in the
future, which is estimated based on past occurrence of supply disruptions

Vulnerability Measure of the market dynamics that make a chemical market more or less resilient to
supply disruptions

The individual parameter rating is based on evaluation of one or more attributes of the chemical or its supply
chain. The ratings and drivers for these three risk parameters are shown below in Table 4.

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Polyaluminum Chloride Supply Chain - Full Profile

Table 4. Supply Chain Risk Evaluation for Polyaluminum Chloride

Risk Parameter Ratings and Drivers







1

ICriticality High

1 Likelihood Low



Vulnerability Moderate-High 1

Polyaluminum chlorides are essential
to the water sector and have
widespread application as coagulants
in drinking water and wastewater.

The water sector has not experienced
polyaluminum chloride supply chain
disruptions between 2000 and 2022.



Strong domestic manufacturing
provides some resilience to supply
disruptions. However, production of a
key input, aluminum hydroxide, relies
on import of raw material (bauxite).
Production of another key input,
hydrochloric acid, is dependent on the
chlor-alkali industry.

Risk Rating: Moderate-Low

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References

American Water Works Association (AWWA), 2010. B408 Liquid Polyaluminum Chloride. Denver, CO:

American Water Works Association.

EPA, 2016. 2016 TSCA Chemical Data Reporting, retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-
reporting/access-cdr-data#2016

EPA, 2020. 2020 TSCA Chemical Data Reporting, retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-
reporting/access-cdr-data#2020

EPA, 2022a. Chemical Suppliers and Manufacturers Locator Tool, retrieved from

https://www.epa.gov/waterutilitvresponse/chemical-suppliers-and-manufacturers-locator-tool

EPA, 2022b. Understanding Water Treatment Chemical Supply Chains and the Risk of Disruptions, retrieved
from https://www.epa.gov/waterutilitvresponse/risk-disruptions-supplv-water-treatment-chemicals

GEO Specialty Chemicals, 2015. Safety Data Sheet for Polyaluminum chloride solution, retrieved from
https://www.geosc.com/Assets/Files/MSDS-Files/Polvaluminum-chloride-solution-(l)/SDS-3204J-
Polvaluminum-chloride-solution-AGFIS-EN.pdf

Gulbrandsen Technologies, n.d. Our Products, retrieved from https://gulbrandsentechnologies.com/what-
we-do/water-treatment/#our-products

Kemira Water Solutions (Kemira), 2014. Safety Data Sheet for Kemira PAX -18, retrieved from
https://www.hillbrothers.eom/pdf/downloads/msds/sds/n/pax-18.pdf

Kemira Water Solutions (Kemira), n.d. Products, retrieved from https://www.kemira.com/products/

NSF International, 2021. Search for NSF Certified Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals, retrieved from
https://info.nsf.org/Certified/PwsChemicals/

Shen, Y.H. and Dempsey, B.A., 1998. Synthesis and speciation of polyaluminum chloride for water

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Polyaluminum Chloride Supply Chain - Full Profile

treatment. Environment International, 24(8), pp.899-910.

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), 2021. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Search, retrieved from
https://hts.usitc.gov/

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), 2022. USITC DataWeb, retrieved from
https://dataweb.usitc.gov/

World Integrated Trade Solutions (WITS), 2022. Trade Statistics by Product (HS 6-digit), retrieved from
https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/countrv-bvhs6product.aspx?lang=en#void

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