Buying Coagulants in 2026: PAC, Alum & Ferric Specs
TL;DR Buying coagulants well in 2026 comes down to one habit: buy active metal, not tonnes of product. Two coagulants at the same price per tonne can differ by a third in delivered alumina or iron, so compare on cost per kg of active Al or Fe and on the jar-test dose, never on the drum price. Pin basicity and Al2O3 onto the specification, verify them on a batch COA, and watch the 2026 cost drivers — tight hydrochloric acid and an aluminium deficit — that are firming PAC prices. If the water is potable, ask for an NSF/ANSI 60 certificate before anything else.
Buy active metal, not tonnes of product
The number on the quote is a price per tonne of a liquid or powder. What actually coagulates your water is the metal inside it — aluminium or iron. Those two numbers are not proportional, and comparing suppliers on price per tonne is how mills overpay.
The comparison that matters is cost per kilogram of active metal, at the dose your water needs. Work it in two steps: divide the delivered price by the active content to get cost per kg of active, then multiply by the jar-test dose to get cost per cubic metre treated.
A worked example with a verified 2026 PAC price: spray-dried PAC at 30% Al2O3 and about USD 250/MT is USD 0.25/kg of product, which is USD 0.83 per kg of Al2O3. A liquid PAC at 10% Al2O3 has to land near USD 83/MT to match that on an active basis — and it rarely does, because you are also paying to freight its water. Run the same arithmetic for alum and ferric at your delivered price and the cheapest drum is often the most expensive treatment.
What basicity actually tells you
Basicity — the OH/Al molar ratio, quoted as a percentage — is the single most misunderstood number on a PAC spec. It typically runs 40–90%, and it is not a quality grade; it is a behaviour setting.
- Higher basicity (say 70–90%) consumes less of the water's alkalinity and depresses pH less, so it needs less pH correction downstream. It is pre-hydrolysed, which suits low-alkalinity or cold water.
- Lower basicity (40–65%) is more aggressive on charge and can out-perform on high-turbidity or heavily charged water, at the cost of eating more alkalinity.
The practical rule: a PAC is only comparable to another PAC at a similar basicity. A cheaper high-basicity product and a dearer low-basicity one are different tools, not the same tool at two prices. Aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH) sits at the very high end (basicity above 80%, Al2O3 above 23%) — concentrated and gentle on pH, priced accordingly.
Al2O3 content, and the "30% PAC" trap
Al2O3 percentage is what you are buying, but the same product name hides very different numbers depending on form:
| Coagulant | Active, typical | Form | Note when buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAC, spray-dried solid | 28–31% Al2O3 (sold as "30%") | Powder / granule | Best active-per-freight; needs make-down |
| PAC, liquid | 10–12% Al2O3 | Liquid | Ready to dose; you freight ~88% water |
| Aluminium sulphate (alum) | ~17% Al2O3 solid; ~8% liquid | Solid / liquid | Cheap per tonne, low active, heavy alkalinity draw |
| Ferric chloride | ~40% as FeCl3 solution | Liquid | Compare on Fe, corrosive, stains |
| Polyferric sulphate (PFS) | ~11–21% as Fe2O3 | Liquid / solid | Wider working pH than ferric chloride |
So "30% PAC" almost always means 30% Al2O3 in the solid; a "PAC" quoted around 10% is a liquid and is not cheaper — it is the same chemistry with water added. Always make the supplier state Al2O3 as a percentage and the form on the same line.
The 2026 price picture, and what moves it
Coagulant prices entered 2026 firm but range-bound. Indicative figures, to be checked against a current index before you contract:
| Item | Indicative early-2026 level | What sets it |
|---|---|---|
| PAC 30% solid, FOB China | ~USD 235–260/MT (≈1,720 RMB/MT domestic) | Hydrochloric acid + alumina feedstock |
| PAC, delivered NA / EU | Higher — add ocean + inland freight | Freight, duties, local demand |
| Alum / ferric | Track their own metal + acid inputs | Aluminium / iron + sulphuric or hydrochloric acid |
Two drivers are worth watching in 2026. First, hydrochloric acid supply tightened after reduced chlor-alkali output in late 2025, and HCl is a direct PAC feedstock — that is what is firming prices through the first half of the year. Second, a persistent aluminium deficit keeps a floor under every aluminium-based coagulant. Neither is a reason to panic-buy; both are reasons to lock active-basis pricing rather than headline tonne pricing, and to keep a qualified second source.
The specification to put on a coagulant order
Leave any of these off and you have handed the supplier a choice you did not mean to give:
- Active content — Al2O3 % for aluminium coagulants, Fe or Fe2O3 % for iron — with the form (liquid or solid) on the same line.
- Basicity (OH/Al ratio) for PAC and ACH.
- Density / specific gravity, to convert between volume and mass dosing.
- pH of a stated-strength solution.
- Water-insoluble matter — the grit that blocks dosing lines and fouls diffusers.
- Heavy metals — arsenic, lead and others, essential for potable use.
- Freezing / crystallisation point for liquids on winter or long-transit shipments.
- NSF/ANSI 60 certification if the water is for human consumption — non-negotiable, and covered on our quality and certifications page.
- The test method for each parameter, so your lab and theirs measure the same thing.
What a coagulant COA must show
You specify against the data sheet, but you accept against the batch Certificate of Analysis — it is the only document that describes the drums that actually arrived. A usable coagulant COA carries:
- A lot number that matches the labels on the totes or bags.
- Measured Al2O3 (or Fe) and basicity for that batch — real numbers, not the word "conforms".
- Insolubles and heavy metals, measured, with the method referenced.
- The analysis date and evidence of instrument calibration.
- Sign-off and a conformity statement naming the specification.
Ask for three consecutive batch COAs when qualifying a supplier. One shows a number; three show the spread, and the spread is the real quality signal.
A procurement sequence that works
Common coagulant buying mistakes
- Comparing price per tonne instead of per kg of active. A cheap liquid at 10% Al2O3 is usually dearer than a 30% solid once you price the metal.
- Comparing two PACs at different basicity. They behave differently; the price gap may be buying you a different tool.
- Skipping the jar test and buying on spec alone — your water, not the data sheet, sets the dose. Use a standard jar-test procedure.
- Ignoring freezing point on liquid PAC or ferric in winter freight.
- Forgetting NSF/ANSI 60 on potable water, then discovering it at audit.
- Single-sourcing a coagulant that stops the plant if the delivery is late.
Key takeaways
- Buy active metal, not tonnes. Cost per kg of Al2O3 or Fe at the jar-test dose is the only fair comparison.
- Basicity is a behaviour setting, not a grade — only compare PACs at similar basicity.
- "30% PAC" is the solid; a "10% PAC" is the same chemistry plus water — and you pay to freight the water.
- 2026 prices are firm on tight HCl and an aluminium deficit — lock active-basis pricing and keep a second source.
- Specify active, basicity and method; accept against a measured batch COA, and demand NSF/ANSI 60 for potable water.
Watch
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy PAC, alum or ferric?
It depends on your water, and the honest answer comes from a jar test on your own sample, not from a data sheet. As a starting point: PAC (polyaluminium chloride) works over a wider pH band than alum, consumes less alkalinity and usually needs a lower dose, which is why it has displaced alum in many plants; alum is cheap per tonne but low in active and heavy on alkalinity; ferric chloride and polyferric sulphate handle colour, phosphorus and low temperatures well but are corrosive and can stain. Compare them the same way every time — cost per kilogram of active metal at the jar-test dose — rather than on price per tonne of product.
What is basicity in PAC and why does it matter?
Basicity is the OH/Al molar ratio in polyaluminium chloride, quoted as a percentage, typically 40–90%. It sets how the product behaves rather than how good it is. Higher-basicity PAC is pre-hydrolysed, consumes less of the water's alkalinity and depresses pH less, which suits cold or low-alkalinity water and reduces downstream pH correction. Lower-basicity PAC is more aggressive on charge and can perform better on high-turbidity water, but eats more alkalinity. The practical consequence for buyers is that two PACs are only comparable at a similar basicity — otherwise you are comparing two different tools, not the same product at two prices.
Does "30% PAC" mean 30% Al2O3?
Almost always it means 30% Al2O3 in the solid, spray-dried form — that is the industry shorthand. The trap is that a liquid PAC of the same chemistry typically carries only 10–12% Al2O3, because the rest is water. So a liquid quoted around 10% is not a cheaper PAC; it is the same active chemistry with water added, and you pay to freight that water. Always make the supplier state the Al2O3 percentage and the form (liquid or solid) on the same line, and compare on cost per kilogram of Al2O3, not per tonne of product.
Why are coagulant prices firm in 2026?
Two drivers. First, hydrochloric acid supply tightened after reduced chlor-alkali output in the second half of 2025, and HCl is a direct feedstock for polyaluminium chloride, so PAC prices have firmed through the first half of 2026. Second, a persistent global aluminium deficit keeps a floor under every aluminium-based coagulant. Entering 2026, spray-dried 30% PAC sat around USD 235–260 per tonne FOB China, with delivered prices in North America and Europe higher once freight and duties are added. Treat these as indicative and check a current price index before contracting, because grade, basicity and volume all move the number.
Does VCYCLETECH supply PAC, alum and ferric coagulants with a COA?
Yes. VCYCLETECH is a China-based manufacturer of coagulants and flocculants — polyaluminium chloride (PAC), aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH), aluminium sulphate, polyferric sulphate and polyacrylamide — shipped factory-direct with a batch Certificate of Analysis carrying measured Al2O3 or Fe, basicity, insolubles and heavy metals on every lot. We are ISO 9001/14001/45001 certified, provide free samples for jar testing, offer three consecutive batch COAs for supplier qualification, and can advise on NSF/ANSI 60 grades for potable use. Email sales@vcycletech.com for a quote and specification sheet.
About the manufacturer
VCYCLETECH is a China-based manufacturer of water treatment and process chemicals — coagulants and flocculants, paper chemicals, surfactants, biocides, phosphonates and dispersants — ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 certified, with a COA on every batch and OEM/ODM service. See our quality & certifications.
References
- Polyaluminium Chloride Price Index 2026 — ChemtradeAsia
- Polyaluminium chloride — Wikipedia
- Aluminium sulfate — Wikipedia
- NSF/ANSI 60 Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals — NSF
Related: PAC · Polyferric sulphate · Alum vs PAC vs PFS · PAC selection guide · Residual acrylamide in PAM · Coagulants & flocculants