Lanthanum Carbonate

Rare Earth Carbonates

Lanthanum Carbonate, chemically represented as La₂(CO₃)₃ (primarily existing in anhydrous form or with trace water of crystallization under ambient conditions), is a key inorganic compound in the lanthanide carbonate family. Distinguished by its stable lanthanum(III) oxidation state (+3) and extremely low aqueous solubility—traits that set it apart from highly soluble lanthanum salts like nitrate or chloride—it is ideal for applications requiring controlled release of La³⁺ ions and long-term stability in aqueous environments. Unlike organic lanthanum complexes (e.g., lanthanum acetate), Lanthanum Carbonate’s carbonate anion (CO₃²⁻) offers strong ionic bonding, ensuring resistance to thermal decomposition and minimal organic residue. With base purities ranging from 98% (technical grade) to 99.999% (ultra-high purity), it is widely used in water treatment, pharmaceutical formulations, ceramic processing, and advanced material synthesis.

Commercially, Lanthanum Carbonate is categorized by purity, particle size, and morphology (powder or granular) to meet diverse application needs. Technical Grade (purity 98.0%–99.0%, particle size 100–200 mesh, powder or granular) prioritizes cost-efficiency for industrial uses like water treatment (high-efficiency phosphate removal), ceramic sintering aids (lowering the sintering temperature of alumina ceramics), and raw material for lanthanum oxide synthesis. Pharmaceutical Grade (purity ≥99.9%, controlled particle size 200–300 mesh, fine powder) meets strict regulatory standards for oral phosphate binders in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients—where low heavy metal content (e.g.,<1 ppm lead, <0.5 ppm arsenic) and uniform particle size are critical for bioavailability and safety. High-Purity Grade (purity ≥99.99%, particle size 200–300 mesh, ultrafine powder) targets electronics and optoelectronics, including precursors for lanthanum-based dielectric films and dopants for piezoelectric ceramics—where trace impurities (e.g., <10 ppb heavy metals, <5 ppb silicon, aluminum) must be minimized to avoid performance defects. Ultra-High Purity Grade (purity ≥99.999%, particle size 300–400 mesh, nanoscale powder) is a niche grade for quantum dots and semiconductor applications, with strict control over particle size distribution (±5% of target diameter) to ensure compatibility with nanoscale processing. At standard temperature and pressure, Lanthanum Carbonate appears as white to off-white amorphous or crystalline powder—its light color and lack of strong reactivity simplify handling, while purity can be verified via X-ray diffraction (XRD) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Physically, Lanthanum Carbonate exhibits traits tailored to its low solubility and application requirements. It has a molecular weight of 457.85 g/mol (anhydrous), a bulk density of ~2.60 g/cm³ (powder) to ~3.10 g/cm³ (granular), and extremely low aqueous solubility: it dissolves in water at only ~0.001 g/100 mL (20°C)—far lower than lanthanum nitrate (98 g/100 mL) or acetate (25 g/100 mL)—enabling sustained release of La³⁺ ions for phosphate binding or controlled crystallization. Its solubility increases significantly in acidic solutions (e.g., ~15 g/100 mL in 1 M nitric acid at 20°C), a property leveraged in pharmaceutical formulations to ensure dissolution in the acidic gastric environment. Thermal stability is excellent: it decomposes gradually above 400°C (losing CO₂) and completely converts to lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) above 800°C—with no intermediate toxic byproducts, making it suitable for high-temperature ceramic processes. It exhibits minimal hygroscopicity (~0.2% moisture absorption at 60% humidity) compared to highly hygroscopic lanthanum chloride, preventing caking and ensuring long-term storage stability. Notably, its specific surface area varies by morphology: ultrafine powder grades have a surface area of 10–20 m²/g (enhancing phosphate adsorption), while granular grades have a lower surface area of 2–5 m²/g (improving flowability for industrial dosing).

Chemically, Lanthanum Carbonate’s defining feature is the high affinity of La³⁺ ions for anionic species (e.g., phosphate, carbonate) and stability in neutral to basic environments. As a lanthanide(III) carbonate, it dissociates minimally in aqueous solutions but reacts readily with strong acids to form soluble lanthanum salts—for example, with nitric acid: La₂(CO₃)₃ + 6HNO₃ → 2La(NO₃)₃ + 3CO₂↑ + 3H₂O. This reaction is critical for pharmaceutical applications, where it dissolves in gastric acid to release La³⁺ ions that bind to dietary phosphate, preventing absorption. Unlike lanthanum sulfate (which forms insoluble complexes with calcium), Lanthanum Carbonate exhibits selective binding to phosphate, avoiding interference with essential mineral absorption. It is chemically inert under normal conditions, with no redox reactivity (La³⁺ is the most stable oxidation state of lanthanum), making it safe for pharmaceutical and food-contact applications. When heated with carbonates of other rare earths, it forms solid solutions—used in the production of colored ceramics and phosphors.

The industrial production of Lanthanum Carbonate primarily uses lanthanum-rich raw materials, such as lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) or lanthanum nitrate, via precipitation with carbonate salts. The process involves five core steps. First, raw material purification: if using La₂O₃ (purity ≥99.0%), it is dissolved in dilute nitric acid to form a lanthanum nitrate solution, which undergoes solvent extraction to remove impurities (e.g., other rare earths, heavy metals). If using lanthanum nitrate (technical grade), it is dissolved in deionized water and filtered to remove insoluble residues. Second, precipitation: the purified lanthanum solution is mixed with a concentrated ammonium carbonate ((NH₄)₂CO₃) or sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) solution in a stirred reactor at 20–40°C (pH 8–9), with a molar ratio of La³⁺ to CO₃²⁻ of 2:3 (reaction: 2La(NO₃)₃ + 3(NH₄)₂CO₃ → La₂(CO₃)₃↓ + 6NH₄NO₃). The reaction temperature and pH are tightly controlled to avoid amorphous precipitation and ensure uniform particle growth. Third, aging: the resulting slurry is aged at 40–60°C for 2–4 hours to enhance crystal growth and improve filterability. Fourth, separation and washing: the precipitated Lanthanum Carbonate is filtered via vacuum filtration, then washed repeatedly with deionized water to remove residual nitrate or ammonium ions—critical for pharmaceutical grade to meet purity standards. Fifth, drying and finishing: the wet cake is dried at 80–120°C to remove surface moisture (avoiding over-drying to prevent decomposition), then crushed and screened to target particle size. Pharmaceutical grade undergoes additional micronization to achieve fine particle size (~5–10 μm) for optimal bioavailability, while high-purity grades are processed under cleanroom conditions to avoid contamination.

Lanthanum Carbonate’s applications are driven by its low solubility, selective binding properties, and biocompatibility. In pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Grade Lanthanum Carbonate is a first-line oral phosphate binder for CKD patients: it dissolves in the stomach, releases La³⁺ ions that form insoluble lanthanum phosphate (LaPO₄), which is excreted in feces—effectively reducing serum phosphate levels without systemic absorption of lanthanum. In water treatment, Technical Grade granular Lanthanum Carbonate is used in filtration systems for municipal wastewater or lake remediation: its high surface area and selective phosphate binding remove up to 99% of phosphate, preventing eutrophication and algal blooms. In ceramics, High-Purity Grade powder is a sintering aid for zirconia-alumina composites: it forms a liquid phase at high temperatures, promoting grain refinement and reducing sintering shrinkage, resulting in ceramics with enhanced mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance. In electronics, Ultra-High Purity Grade nanoscale Lanthanum Carbonate is a precursor for lanthanum-doped barium titanate (BaTiO₃) ceramics—used in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) for smartphones and electric vehicles, where its high purity ensures consistent dielectric performance. Additionally, it is used in the production of phosphors for LED lighting: when doped with europium or terbium, it emits bright red or green light, respectively, with high luminous efficiency.

Safety-wise, Lanthanum Carbonate has low acute toxicity and is considered safe for most industrial and pharmaceutical uses. Industrial-grade powder may generate minor dust—operators should wear nitrile gloves and a dust mask to avoid inhalation, which may cause mild respiratory irritation. Pharmaceutical grade is biocompatible, with minimal systemic absorption (<0.1% of ingested dose) in humans, but excessive intake may cause gastrointestinal discomfort (e.g., constipation, nausea). It is non-flammable, and thermal decomposition releases only carbon dioxide (CO₂)—a non-toxic gas—posing no fire or explosion risks. To ensure safety, industrial-grade should be stored in a cool (15–25°C), dry (<60% humidity) area in sealed containers to prevent moisture absorption; pharmaceutical grade should be stored per regulatory guidelines (e.g., room temperature, protected from light). It should be separated from strong acids to avoid unwanted reaction and gas evolution. 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, industrial-grade has a shelf life of 3–4 years, pharmaceutical grade 2–3 years (per expiration date), and high-purity grade 2–3 years. Expired products may show reduced phosphate binding capacity (detected via titration) or increased moisture content (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 Carbonate.

Key Features:

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

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

Consistency: The strict batch management in the production ofLanthanum Carbonate ensures stable quality for industrial large-scale production.

Phosphorus blood level treatment agent: Lanthionine is a non-aluminum and non-calcium phosphate binder. It is used to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic renal failure (especially those undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis). It dissociates into lanthanum ions in the acidic environment of the stomach, combines with phosphate in food to form insoluble phosphate lanthanum complexes, and is excreted in feces, effectively reducing serum phosphate levels and calcium-phosphate product, which helps manage complications such as renal osteopathy and vascular calcification. Its trade name is mainly Fosrenol.

Chemical industry catalyst: Lithium carbonate, as a rare earth carbonate, is an important raw material for preparing fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. It is particularly suitable for the cracking reaction from heavy crude oil to produce high-octane gasoline. It is also the initial raw material for synthesizing other lanthanide compounds (such as lanthanum manganese oxides, high-temperature superconducting materials).

Special glass and ceramic additives: In the glass industry, lanthanum carbonate is used for coloring the glass and improving its optical properties. It is also a precursor for preparing key components of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), such as lanthanum strontium manganese oxide, as well as electronic ceramic materials.

Water treatment agent: Lanthanum carbonate can be used in the water treatment process. Through a similar phosphate binding mechanism, it helps remove phosphate from water bodies and has the potential to be applied in controlling water body eutrophication.

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