Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrare

Rare Earth Sulfates

Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate, chemically represented as La₂(SO₄)₃·nH₂O (where n typically ranges from 1 to 9, with the octahydrate (n=8) and heptahydrate (n=7) being the most commercially prevalent forms), is a key inorganic compound in the lanthanide sulfate family. Distinguished by its stable lanthanum(III) oxidation state (+3) and variable water content, it balances moderate aqueous solubility with good chemical stability—setting it apart from more soluble lanthanum salts like chloride or nitrate, and making it ideal for applications requiring controlled release of lanthanum ions. Unlike anhydrous lanthanum sulfate (which requires strict moisture-free storage), the hydrated form is less hygroscopic and easier to handle in ambient conditions, with water of crystallization contributing to its crystalline structure and processing compatibility. With base purities spanning 95% (technical grade) to 99.999% (ultra-high purity), it is widely used in materials synthesis, water treatment, ceramics, and laboratory research.

Commercially, Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate is categorized by water content, purity, and particle size to align with application needs. Technical Grade (purity 95.0%–99.0%, typically octahydrate or heptahydrate, particle size 100–200 mesh) prioritizes cost-efficiency for industrial uses like ceramic sintering aids, fertilizer additives, and raw material for lanthanum oxide synthesis. Reagent Grade (purity ≥99.0%, controlled water content ±0.5%, particle size 200–300 mesh) meets laboratory standards for analytical chemistry, lanthanide coordination studies, and small-scale wet synthesis. High-Purity Grade (purity ≥99.99%, low-hydrate forms like trihydrate (n=3), particle size 200–300 mesh) targets electronics and optics, including precursor for lanthanum-based thin films and dopant for optical glasses—where trace impurities (e.g.,<10 ppb heavy metals, <5 ppb other rare earths) must be minimized. Ultra-High Purity Grade (purity ≥99.999%, monohydrate (n=1) or dihydrate (n=2)) is a niche grade for semiconductor and quantum dot applications, with water content tightly controlled (<0.1% variation) to avoid moisture-induced defects. At standard temperature and pressure, Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate appears as colorless to white crystalline powder or needle-like crystals, with water content distinguishable via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)—e.g., octahydrate loses most 结晶 water at 100–150°C, forming anhydrous La₂(SO₄)₃ above 250°C.

Physically, Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate exhibits traits tailored to its water content and application. The octahydrate (La₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O) has a molecular weight of 709.80 g/mol, a bulk density of ~1.82 g/cm³, and moderate solubility in water (~3.2 g/100 mL at 20°C)—lower than lanthanum chloride or nitrate, enabling controlled ion release in water treatment. The heptahydrate (La₂(SO₄)₃·7H₂O) has a molecular weight of 691.78 g/mol, similar bulk density, and slightly higher solubility (~3.5 g/100 mL at 20°C), suited for fertilizer formulations where gradual nutrient release is desired. Anhydrous lanthanum sulfate (molecular weight 566.00 g/mol) has a higher bulk density (~2.82 g/cm³) and lower solubility (~0.2 g/100 mL at 20°C), but the hydrated forms are preferred for most applications due to better processability. Thermal stability varies with water content: lower hydrates (monohydrate, dihydrate) decompose at 200–300°C, while higher hydrates (heptahydrate, octahydrate) lose water in stages, with complete decomposition to lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) above 800°C (via intermediate lanthanum oxysulfate, La₂O₂SO₄). All hydrated forms have low hygroscopicity (<0.3% moisture absorption at 60% humidity), preventing caking and simplifying storage.

Chemically, Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate is defined by its stability and selective reactivity. As a lanthanide (III) sulfate, it dissociates partially in aqueous solutions (due to lower solubility) into La³⁺ and SO₄²⁻ ions, with the degree of dissociation increasing with temperature. It reacts with strong bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to form insoluble lanthanum hydroxide (La (OH)₃) precipitates (La₂(SO₄)₃ + 6NaOH → 2La (OH)₃↓ + 3Na₂SO₄), a reaction used in analytical chemistry to isolate lanthanum from sulfate-rich solutions. With carbonate salts (e.g., ammonium carbonate), it forms insoluble lanthanum carbonate (La₂(CO₃)₃), a key intermediate in lanthanum oxide synthesis. Unlike lanthanum nitrate, it is not a strong oxidizer and exhibits no redox reactivity under normal conditions, making it safe for use in fertilizer and food contact applications (e.g., phosphate binders in animal feed). When heated, it undergoes thermal decomposition: first losing 结晶 water, then converting to lanthanum oxysulfate (La₂O₂SO₄) at 500–600°C, and finally to La₂O₃ at >800°C—this pathway is widely used to produce high-purity lanthanum oxide for electronics.

The industrial production of Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate primarily uses lanthanum-rich raw materials, such as purified lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) or lanthanum chloride, via acid precipitation or neutralization. The process involves four core steps. First, raw material preparation: if using La₂O₃ (purity ≥99.0%), it is crushed to 100–200 mesh and dissolved in dilute sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄, 20%–30% concentration) at 60–80°C, with a molar ratio of La₂O₃ to H₂SO₄ of 1:3 (reaction: La₂O₃ + 3H₂SO₄ + nH₂O → La₂(SO₄)₃·nH₂O + 3H₂O). If using lanthanum chloride, a solution of ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) is added to induce precipitation of lanthanum sulfate. Second, purification: the resulting solution or suspension is filtered to remove undissolved impurities (e.g., silica, other Rare Earth Sulfates). For high-purity grades, solvent extraction or ion exchange is used to reduce trace metals and anions to ppb levels. Third, crystallization: the purified solution is concentrated under reduced pressure at 50–70°C to a 40%–50% concentration, then cooled to 0–10°C to crystallize the desired hydrate (e.g., octahydrate at 5–10°C, heptahydrate at 10–15°C). The crystals are filtered and washed with cold deionized water to remove residual sulfate. Fourth, drying and finishing: the wet crystals are dried at 40–60°C (for higher hydrates) or 80–100°C (for lower hydrates) to control water content, then crushed and screened to target particle size. High-purity grades are dried under vacuum to avoid atmospheric contamination, then packaged in moisture-proof containers.

Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate’s applications span industries, driven by its controlled solubility and stability. In water treatment, Technical Grade octahydrate is used as a phosphate remover: La³⁺ ions react with PO₄³⁻ to form insoluble lanthanum phosphate (LaPO₄), which settles out, preventing eutrophication in lakes and wastewater systems—its low solubility ensures gradual release of La³⁺, avoiding sudden pH drops. In materials synthesis, it is a precursor for high-purity lanthanum oxide: thermal decomposition produces La₂O₃ used in solid oxide fuel cells (electrolytes) and ceramic capacitors. In agriculture, Reagent Grade heptahydrate is added to fertilizers as a micronutrient: trace lanthanum promotes root growth and enhances crop resistance to drought and pests, with its low solubility preventing leaching into groundwater. In optics, High-Purity Grade low-hydrates are doped into specialty glasses to improve refractive index and UV absorption, used in high-precision lenses and optical fibers. In laboratory settings, Reagent Grade is used for quantitative analysis (e.g., determination of sulfate ions via precipitation as barium sulfate, with lanthanum acting as a masking agent for other cations) and lanthanide chemistry research. Additionally, it is used in ceramic manufacturing as a sintering aid, lowering the sintering temperature of alumina ceramics by 100–200°C and improving mechanical strength.

Safety-wise, Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrate has low acute toxicity and is considered safe for most industrial and laboratory uses. Its crystals or solutions cause minimal skin or eye irritation—direct contact may result in mild dryness, but no chemical burns. Inhalation of fine powder may irritate the respiratory tract, leading to temporary coughing, so dust generation should be minimized. It is non-flammable, and thermal decomposition releases only water vapor and non-toxic sulfur oxides (at high temperatures), posing no fire or explosion risks. To ensure safety, operators should wear nitrile gloves and safety goggles when handling; a dust mask is recommended for fine-powder grades. Storage should be in a cool (15–25°C), dry (<60% area="" in="" sealed="" containers="" to="" maintain="" water="" higher="" hydrates="" should="" be="" protected="" from="" excessive="" heat="">40°C) to prevent water loss, while lower hydrates are more heat-tolerant. It should be stored separately from strong bases to avoid unwanted precipitation. In case of skin contact, rinse with water for 10 minutes; eye contact requires flushing with water. If inhaled, move to fresh air. When stored properly, higher hydrates have a shelf life of 1–2 years, lower hydrates 2–3 years. Expired products may show reduced solubility or water content deviation (detected via TGA) and should be tested before use.

Descriptive:  WNX employs advanced automated production technology and uses high-quality raw materials to produce high-qualityLanthanum Sulfate Hydrare.

Key Features:

High Purity:Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrare contains no impurities from rare earth elements (such as iron, calcium, sodium), and the impurity content is low.

Good Solubility:Lanthanum Sulfate Hydrare can dissolve rapidly in water and strong acids.

Consistency: The strict batch management in the production ofLanthanum Sulfate Hydrare

ensures stable quality for industrial large-scale production.

Chemical industry catalyst: The hydrated lanthanum sulfate is an important component of the catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst used in the petrochemical industry. It can effectively enhance the efficiency of converting heavy crude oil into high-octane gasoline and diesel. It can also serve as a catalyst or catalyst precursor for certain organic synthesis reactions.

Chemical thermal storage materials: Due to its reversible dehydration/hydration reaction characteristics, lanthanum sulfate hydrate is an extremely promising chemical thermal storage material. It can undergo reversible reactions within a relatively low temperature range (approximately 100°C to 250°C), and is used for the recovery and storage of industrial waste heat. It has a high energy storage density and excellent cycle durability.

Pond Phosphorus Remover: Due to its chemical properties, lanthanum sulfate can effectively remove phosphate from water bodies through precipitation, which is helpful in addressing the problem of water body eutrophication.

Chemical synthetic intermediates: As an important source of lanthanum, the hydrated lanthanum sulfate is a key precursor for synthesizing other lanthanum compounds, and is used to prepare various functional materials such as lanthanum oxide and lanthanum-based phosphors. It is also used as a reagent in scientific research such as spectroscopy analysis and determination of atomic weights of elements.

1.Neutral labels/packaging (jumbo bag of 1.000kg each net),Two bags per pallet.

2.Vacuum-sealed, then wrapped in air cushion bags, and finally packed into iron drums.

Drum: Steel drums (open-top, 45L capacity, dimensions: φ365mm × 460mm / inner diameter × outer height).

Weight per Drum: 50 kg

Palletization: 18 drums per pallet (total 900 kg/pallet).

Transport Class: Maritime transportation / Air transportation

Custom packaging available upon request