UNSPSC 51241818: Bentonite/potassium alum/talc

This classification denotes a combination drug defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in its (VA's) National Drug File (NDF), which falls under VA Drug Class DE900. This VA Drug Class (DE900) classifies this compound as belonging to the group DERMATOLOGICALS, TOPICAL OTHER.

UNSPSC 51241818 Bentonite/potassium alum/talc is a Commodity code that in recent state and local procurement activity describes chemical coagulants and treatment agents used in municipal water and wastewater systems. The City of Austin's recent IFB for liquid aluminum sulfate (alum) exemplifies the primary work bought under this code: chemical additives dosed into treatment processes to remove contaminants — in this case, soluble phosphorus removal during activated sludge wastewater treatment. State and local water authorities and environmental departments are the principal issuing bodies soliciting under this code. The work requires vendors to hold manufacturer or authorized dealer status, maintain minimum inventory levels at distribution facilities within specified distances of the purchasing jurisdiction, and comply with water-industry standards such as NSF approval and AWWA specifications. Offerors must supply product certifications, safety documentation, and operational references from existing municipal treatment facilities using the product.

Austin Water's alum solicitation (IFB 2200CSH1061, due August 25, 2026) represents the recent activity under this code. The City of Austin applied local business and small business preference discounts (up to 5% and 3% respectively, stackable) on estimated annual volumes of 179,200 gallons, with firm pricing for 12 months and price adjustments capped at 25% annually thereafter. Geographic activity concentrates in Texas; no other recent state or local opportunities under this code appear in the source data. The alum must meet 47–49% concentration and arrive FOB destination, with vendors required to identify a primary distribution facility within 500 miles of Austin and maintain dedicated storage. A second opportunity tagged to this code (City of Tampa ITB 25P00157 for medical aid supplies) does not reflect work relevant to the code's actual scope and represents a miscoding by the issuing body.