High Purity Cerium Carbonate

Rare Earth Carbonates

High Purity Cerium Carbonate, chemically denoted as Ce₂(CO₃)₃ (predominantly cerium(III) carbonate, the thermodynamically stable trivalent form), is a premium variant of cerium carbonate defined by its ultra-low impurity content and consistent performance—typically meeting purity standards of ≥99.99% (4N) and often reaching ultra-high purity levels of 99.999% (5N) or 99.9999% (6N) for specialized applications. Unlike technical-grade cerium carbonate, which tolerates impurities in the range of 1%–5%, High Purity Cerium Carbonate undergoes rigorous multi-step purification to eliminate trace contaminants: heavy metals (e.g., iron, copper, lead) are controlled to<10 ppb, other rare earth elements (e.g., lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium) to <5 ppb, and anions (e.g., chloride, sulfate, nitrate) to <1 ppm. This exceptional purity, combined with cerium(III)’s inherent stability (+3 oxidation state) and low aqueous solubility, makes it indispensable in high-precision fields such as electronics, optics, and advanced catalyst manufacturing—where even minute impurities can cause device failure or performance degradation.

Commercially, High Purity Cerium Carbonate is categorized by purity grade and particle size to match specific application needs. The 4N Grade (≥99.99% purity) is the most widely used, with particle sizes ranging from 100–500 mesh (fine powder) to 1–3 mm (granules), suitable for optical glass doping, catalyst precursors, and thin-film deposition. The 5N Grade (≥99.999% purity) targets semiconductor and optoelectronic applications, requiring stricter impurity control (e.g.,<1 ppb heavy metals) and uniform fine particle sizes (200–300 mesh) to ensure consistent dispersion in high-tech processes. The 6N Grade (≥99.9999% purity) is a niche grade for quantum computing and advanced sensor materials, with impurity levels near detection limits (<0.1 ppb) and custom-engineered particle morphologies (e.g., spherical particles for uniform coating). At standard temperature and pressure, High Purity Cerium Carbonate exists as a white, ultra-fine crystalline powder or dense, uniform granules—its pale, consistent color (free of discoloration from impurities) and lack of visible aggregates are key visual indicators of its high purity, simplifying quality inspection in manufacturing.

Physically, High Purity Cerium Carbonate exhibits traits optimized for precision applications. It has a molecular weight of 460.25 g/mol (identical to standard cerium carbonate) but differs in bulk density: fine-powder grades (100–500 mesh) have a bulk density of ~2.5–2.7 g/cm³, while granular grades (1–3 mm) reach 3.0–3.2 g/cm³ due to denser packing. A defining physical property is its ultra-low impurity-related variability: unlike lower-grade variants, its solubility in strong acids (e.g., nitric acid) is highly consistent (≥99.9% dissolution efficiency), with no undissolved residues from impurities. Its water solubility remains extremely low (~0.001 g/100 mL at 20°C), but high purity eliminates solubility fluctuations caused by trace soluble impurities (e.g., sodium, potassium). Thermal stability is also enhanced: it decomposes uniformly at 300–400°C to form high-purity cerium(III) oxide (Ce₂O₃, matching the carbonate’s purity grade) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), with no residual ash or impurity-induced decomposition anomalies. Fine-powder grades exhibit minimal hygroscopicity (<0.1% moisture absorption at 60% humidity) due to reduced surface area impurities that act as moisture nucleation sites, while granular grades retain structural integrity even under moderate humidity.

Chemically, High Purity Cerium Carbonate retains cerium(III) carbonate’s core reactivity but with exceptional consistency and impurity-free performance. It is stable in air and inert to anhydrous organic solvents (e.g., ethanol, acetonitrile) under normal conditions, with reactivity limited to strong acids and high temperatures. When reacted with high-purity nitric acid (used in electronics manufacturing), it undergoes complete, controlled reaction (Ce₂(CO₃)₃ + 6HNO₃ → 2Ce(NO₃)₃ + 3CO₂↑ + 3H₂O) without side reactions from impurities (e.g., iron(III) ions causing coloration of the resulting solution). Thermal decomposition produces high-purity Ce₂O₃, which can be further oxidized to cerium(IV) oxide (CeO₂) at >600°C—both oxides retain the carbonate’s high purity, making them ideal for dielectric layers and optical coatings. Unlike lower-grade cerium carbonate, High Purity variants are free of oxidizable impurities (e.g., organic residues), ensuring no unwanted redox reactions during high-temperature processing (e.g., thin-film deposition) that could compromise product quality.

The industrial production of High Purity Cerium Carbonate requires a specialized, contamination-controlled process, building on standard cerium carbonate synthesis but adding advanced purification steps. The process involves five core steps. First, raw material selection: high-purity cerium(III) oxide (Ce₂O₃, 4N or higher) is used as the starting material, sourced from refined rare earth ores to minimize initial impurities. Second, acid dissolution: Ce₂O₃ is dissolved in ultra-pure hydrochloric acid (18 MΩ·cm water,<0.1 ppb total impurities) at 80–100°C, with a molar ratio of Ce₂O₃ to HCl of 1:6, to form a cerium(III) chloride solution. Third, multi-stage purification: the solution undergoes solvent extraction using high-purity extractants (e.g., tributyl phosphate, TBP) to separate cerium from other rare earths, followed by ion exchange chromatography (using ultra-pure resins) to remove heavy metals and anions. For 5N/6N grades, an additional membrane filtration step (0.01 μm ultra-filtration) removes colloidal impurities. Fourth, precipitation: ultra-pure ammonium carbonate ((NH₄)₂CO₃, 4N grade) is added to the purified cerium(III) chloride solution at 20–30°C (pH 7.0–7.5) under nitrogen atmosphere to prevent oxidation, forming Ce₂(CO₃)₃ precipitates. The precipitates are washed repeatedly with ultra-pure water (<0.05 ppb impurities) to remove residual salts. Fifth, drying and finishing: the wet precipitates are dried in a cleanroom (Class 100 or higher) at 80–120°C under vacuum to avoid airborne contamination, then crushed and screened to the target particle size. For granular grades, a binder-free granulation process (using high-pressure compaction) is used to maintain purity, followed by annealing at 200°C to enhance structural stability.

High Purity Cerium Carbonate’s applications are concentrated in high-tech fields where purity directly dictates performance. In the optical industry, 4N Grade fine powder is doped into specialty glass to enhance UV absorption and refractive index—used in high-power laser lenses and aerospace optical windows, where impurity-induced light scattering is unacceptable. In electronics, 5N Grade is a precursor for cerium-based dielectric thin films (e.g., CeO₂) in semiconductor devices: it is dissolved in ultra-pure solvents and deposited via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), with its high purity ensuring low leakage current and uniform film thickness. In advanced catalysis, 4N Grade granules serve as a support for noble metal catalysts (e.g., platinum) in fuel cells: the carbonate’s purity prevents catalyst poisoning by impurities (e.g., sulfur), while its controlled decomposition to CeO₂ provides a high-surface-area, reactive support. In optoelectronics, 6N Grade spherical particles are used in quantum dot synthesis, where even trace heavy metals would quench quantum emission. Additionally, it is used in laboratory research for calibrating analytical instruments (e.g., inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, ICP-MS) and as a reference material for cerium speciation studies.

Safety-wise, High Purity Cerium Carbonate poses minimal risks but requires cleanroom-compatible handling to maintain purity. Fine-powder grades can generate low levels of dust (though less than technical-grade due to controlled particle size), so operators should wear cleanroom nitrile gloves, safety goggles, and a low-linting lab coat in Class 1000 or higher environments. Granular grades eliminate dust risks but still require protection against skin/eye irritation from Ce³⁺ ions. Storage must be in airtight, ultra-clean containers (e.g., Teflon-lined polyethylene) in a cleanroom or humidity-controlled environment (15–25°C,<50% humidity) to prevent moisture absorption and contamination. Unlike technical-grade, it should not be stored near other chemicals to avoid cross-contamination. In case of skin contact, rinse with ultra-pure water for 15 minutes; for eye contact, flush with ultra-pure water and seek medical attention. When stored properly, 4N/5N Grades have a shelf life of 2–3 years, while 6N Grade (more sensitive to contamination) has a shelf life of 1–1.5 years. Expired products are identified by reduced purity (detected via ICP-MS) or slight discoloration, and should be discarded or re-purified for lower-grade use.

Descriptive:  WNX employs advanced automated production technology and uses high-quality raw materials to produce high-qualityHigh Purity Cerium Carbonate.

Key Features:

High Purity:High Purity Cerium Carbonate

contains no impurities from rare earth elements (such as iron, calcium, sodium), and the impurity content is low.

Good Solubility:High Purity Cerium Carbonate

can dissolve rapidly in water and strong acids.

Consistency: The strict batch management in the production ofHigh Purity Cerium Carbonate

ensures stable quality for industrial large-scale production.

Chemical industry catalyst: high-purity cerium carbonate is a key material for manufacturing automotive exhaust purification catalysts. It can effectively promote the catalytic conversion of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, aligning with the global trend of emission reduction. It is also used in the petroleum catalytic cracking (FCC) process to enhance fuel production efficiency.

Phosphorus remover for ponds: Based on its chemical properties, cerium carbonate can effectively remove phosphate from water bodies through precipitation, which is helpful in addressing the problem of water body eutrophication.

Batteries and energy materials: High-purity cerium carbonate is applied in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and energy storage technologies, enhancing the ion conductivity and material stability to improve battery performance. It is also a key raw material for preparing critical materials in energy storage devices such as nickel-metal hydride batteries.

Chemical synthesis intermediates: As an important precursor, high-purity cerium carbonate is used to synthesize other cerium compounds, such as cerium oxide and cerium chloride. Additionally, it serves as an intermediate raw material for the production of rare earth luminescent materials (used in LEDs, displays) and precision polishing powders.

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