you undertake one of the most common ways in which aluminum is recycled, its conversion to the alum, potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate, DKAI(so )z.12H2o]. Alum is a versatile substance, which is used in dyeing fabrics, tanning leather and clarifying water in municipal water treatment plants. Medicinally it has applications as an astringent. Derivatives of alum are also used in formulating anti-respirants. Aluminum cans are made of fairy ure aluminum, but the outside and inside are not. The outside is coated with the decorative paints and the inside is thinly coated with a tin plastic that prevents acidic chemicals in the beverage from reacting with the aluminum can. These coating chemicals must be removed before any reactions with aluminum cans are carried out.