Structure of aluminum hydroxide gel III: mechanism of stabilization by sorbitol.

The effect of sorbitol on the aging of aluminum hydroxide gel, prepared by the reaction of aluminum chloride solution with strong ammonia solution to a final pH of 7.0, was studied by potentiometric titration, acid-consuming capacity, pH, hydroxide to aluminum ratio, chloride activity, X-ray diffraction, and IR spectroscopy. Gels containing sorbitol lost less than 10% of their acid-consuming capacity during a 6-month aging period compared with a loss of more than 60% for an identical gel without sorbitol. The mechanism by which sorbitol stabilizes the gel appears to be inhibition of the secondary polymerization reaction which takes place upon aging. Another polyhydroxy compound, quercetin, also stabilizes aluminum hydroxide gel.