Note: The persulfate decomposes easily and must be replenished daily. Use at room temperature with vigorous agitation. Bath life is good to >1% copper concentration in the solution. Note: Citric acid is used in conjunction with persulfate salts for the removal of black smut from aluminum-copper alloys after cleaning with caustic or a nonalkaline cleaner. The persulfate oxidizes the copper to a soluble form. The citric acid then chelates the copper preventing redeposition on the aluminum. These systems do not attack the base metal aluminum.