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    PAC (Poly Aluminium Chloride) Supplier in Oman: Grades, Dosing & Pricing

    Global Chemicals Technical TeamMarch 20, 20269 min read

    Poly Aluminium Chloride (PAC) in Oman — liquid vs powder grades, basicity specs, water treatment dosing, and sourcing from a Muscat supplier.

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    Poly Aluminium Chloride — universally known in Oman's water treatment sector as PAC — is the dominant coagulant used in municipal water treatment, industrial effluent treatment, and sludge conditioning across the Sultanate. If you are responsible for water treatment operations in Oman — whether at a municipal treatment plant, a food and beverage factory, a hotel, a petrochemical facility, or a swimming pool — understanding PAC grades, specifications, and dosing principles will help you select the right product and get better performance from your treatment system.

    What is PAC and How Does it Work?

    Poly Aluminium Chloride (chemical formula [Al2(OH)nCl6-n]m, CAS 1327-41-9) is an inorganic coagulant produced by reacting aluminium hydroxide or bauxite with hydrochloric acid under controlled conditions. Unlike traditional alum (aluminium sulphate), PAC is a pre-polymerised coagulant — it arrives at the treatment plant already in a partially hydrolysed form that is optimised for rapid coagulation. This means PAC forms floc faster, works over a wider pH range (5.5–9.0 vs alum's 6.5–7.5), and produces a denser, more settleable floc that is easier to dewater.

    PAC Grades: Basicity and Aluminium Content

    The key specification differences in PAC products relate to basicity (% OH) and Al2O3 content. Basicity ranges from low (10–40%) to high (70–83%). Low basicity PAC is more acidic and effective for raw water with high organic content (colour, humic acids). High basicity PAC (70–83%) — sometimes called PAX or PAFC when it also contains ferric — is more effective for turbidity removal and works better at lower temperatures. For Oman's desalinated water treatment (very low turbidity, near-neutral pH), high basicity PAC at 70–75% is generally optimal.

    Liquid PAC vs Powder PAC

    FactorLiquid PACPowder PAC
    Al2O3 content10–12% (150–200 g/L aluminium)28–31%
    Supplied in25 L jerricans, 200 L drums, 1,000 L IBCs, or bulk tankerSealed bags
    Preparation before dosingNone — pumped directlyMust be dissolved in water; mixing tank required
    Best suited toPlants with dosing pump systemsRemote locations, or where storage space is limited
    Cost per kg of active Al2O3HigherMore cost-effective
    Handling considerationCorrosive liquid (pH 3.5–5.0)Requires dust control measures

    For large municipal plants, bulk liquid PAC is delivered by tanker truck and stored in dedicated dosing tanks.

    Typical PAC Dosing Rates for Oman Water Conditions

    Dosing rates depend heavily on raw water quality.

    ApplicationRaw water conditionTypical liquid PAC dose (as product)
    Muscat municipal supplyLow turbidity, desalinated origin5–15 mg/L
    Industrial process waterGroundwater, turbidity up to 200 NTU20–50 mg/L
    Swimming pool treatment and polishingPool water5–10 mg/L, followed by sand filtration
    Industrial effluentSuspended solids above 500 mg/L50–200 mg/L, with polymer flocculant aid

    Always conduct a jar test using your actual source water before finalising dose rates. Optimal dose minimises residual aluminium in treated water — WHO guideline for drinking water is <0.2 mg/L Al.

    PAC vs Alum: Which to Choose for Oman?

    For most Oman water treatment applications, PAC outperforms alum (aluminium sulphate).

    FactorPACAlum (aluminium sulphate)
    Effective pH range5.5–9.06.5–7.5
    Performance at Oman's desalinated supply pH (7.5–8.5)Works wellLoses effectiveness above pH 7.5
    Sludge volume20–40% less — lower disposal and dewatering costHigher
    Reaction speedFaster — allows shorter flocculation timesSlower
    Sensitivity to temperature swingsLowHigh

    The only scenario where alum remains competitive is on a cost-per-dose basis for very large volume, price-sensitive applications where performance differences are acceptable. PAC's lower temperature sensitivity matters given Oman's extreme seasonal temperature range.

    PAC Storage and Handling

    Liquid PAC (pH 3.5–5.0, corrosive) must be stored in HDPE or FRP (fibreglass) tanks — never in plain mild steel (corrosion) or concrete (dissolved by acid). Storage above 40°C (common in Oman summer) causes gradual decomposition and colour change (yellow to brown) without necessarily affecting performance, but very long storage above 50°C is not recommended. Keep containers sealed to prevent CO2 absorption. Powder PAC is hygroscopic — store in sealed bags in a cool, dry area. Use within 12 months of manufacture date.

    Global Chemicals LLC is a major PAC supplier in Oman, stocking both liquid PAC (10–12% Al2O3) and powder PAC (28–31% Al2O3) at our Muscat warehouse for same-day or next-day delivery. We supply municipal water authorities, industrial facilities, hotels, swimming pools, and food processing plants across Oman and export to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Contact us for competitive bulk pricing at info@gcoman.com or +968 9277 2305.

    Global Chemicals Technical Team

    Reviewed by our applications engineering team · ISO 9001:2015 · JSRS registered

    Frequently Asked Questions

    PAC (Poly Aluminium Chloride, CAS 1327-41-9) is a pre-polymerised inorganic coagulant that destabilises suspended particles and colloids in water, allowing them to aggregate into larger floc that settles or filters out. Unlike traditional alum, PAC arrives in a partially hydrolysed form that reacts faster and works across a wider pH range (5.5–9.0). In Oman's water treatment sector, PAC is the dominant coagulant at both PAEW municipal plants and industrial effluent systems because it handles the variable pH of desalinated and brackish source water without the performance drop alum experiences above pH 7.5.

    Liquid PAC (10–12% Al2O3) is ready to use and delivered by tanker or in IBC containers, making it ideal for Muscat municipal water plants and industrial facilities with dosing pump infrastructure. Powder PAC (28–31% Al2O3) contains more active aluminium per kilogram, is more cost-effective per unit of Al2O3, and suits remote Oman locations in Al Wusta, Dhofar, or Al Sharqiyah where bulk liquid delivery is impractical. Powder PAC must be dissolved in water before dosing and requires dust control during handling. Both grades are stocked by Global Chemicals LLC in Muscat for same-day dispatch.

    PAC outperforms alum (aluminium sulphate) for four reasons specific to Oman's conditions. First, PAC works effectively at pH 7.5–8.5, which is the typical pH range of Oman's desalinated municipal supply, while alum loses coagulation efficiency above pH 7.5. Second, PAC generates 20–40% less sludge, reducing disposal costs at facilities near Muscat Industrial Area and Rusayl. Third, PAC flocculates faster, enabling shorter hydraulic retention times in high-throughput systems. Fourth, PAC is less temperature-sensitive — important given Oman's extreme seasonal range from 15°C winter to 45°C summer, which would otherwise require alum dose adjustments.

    For Muscat's municipal water supply (desalinated origin, low turbidity under 5 NTU), liquid PAC dosing typically ranges from 5–15 mg/L as product. Groundwater sources with higher turbidity (50–200 NTU) used in Sohar, Salalah, and interior governorates may require 20–50 mg/L. Jar testing at actual site conditions is mandatory before setting final dose rates — WHO guidance requires that treated water residual aluminium stays below 0.2 mg/L. PAEW contractor and PDO facility operators in Oman typically specify jar test results as part of chemical procurement documentation.

    Global Chemicals LLC stocks both liquid PAC (10–12% Al2O3) and powder PAC (28–31% Al2O3) at our Muscat warehouse and offers same-day delivery within Muscat Governorate and next-day delivery to Sohar, Rusayl Industrial Estate, Barka, and Salalah. We supply PAEW-contracted water treatment facilities, industrial effluent plants, hotels, swimming pools, and food processing companies across Oman. Bulk tanker delivery of liquid PAC is available for large municipal facilities. Contact us at info@gcoman.com or +968 9277 2305 for pricing and availability confirmation.

    Tags:

    PAC
    Poly Aluminium Chloride
    Water Treatment
    Coagulant
    Oman
    Muscat

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