There has been an increasing focus on the effective utilization of secondary resources and the prevention and mitigation of environmental pollution. Aluminum dross, recognized as a potential secondary resource due to its abundant reserves, has garnered significant attention for its resource utilization potential. The utilization of aluminum dross in the production of water treatment coagulants, through rational resource allocation, not only facilitates resource conservation and cost reduction, but also addresses the challenge of harmless aluminum dross treatment. The paper summarized the important raw material (calcium aluminate) and five types of aluminum ash-based coagulants (aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum ferric sulfate, and polyaluminum chloride) used in the preparation of aluminum-based coagulants, along with their characteristics, preparation methods, and research progress. Furthermore, challenges were highlighted regarding the large-scale application of aluminumdross-based coagulants, necessitating a strategic approach focused on enhancing product competitiveness and addressing policy gaps. This aims to achieve high-quality, environmentally friendly, and sustainable development in the water treatment and aluminum industries, resulting in significant economic and environmental benefits.