Lanthanum Nitrate

Rare Earth Nitrates

Lanthanum Nitrate, chemically denoted as La(NO₃)₃, is a vital inorganic compound in the lanthanide nitrate family, renowned for its high aqueous solubility, stable lanthanum(III) oxidation state, and broad utility across industrial, laboratory, and high-tech fields. As a representative lanthanide salt, it maintains a consistent +3 valence for lanthanum, ensuring predictable chemical behavior—unlike some transition metal nitrates that exhibit variable oxidation states, which can introduce uncertainty in reactions. This stability, combined with its ease of dissolution and compatibility with various solvents, makes it a preferred precursor for lanthanum-based materials and processes.

Commercially, Lanthanum Nitrate is offered in grades tailored to specific application demands. High-Purity Grade, with a purity of ≥99.99% (4N) and ultra-high purity versions reaching 99.999% (5N), is engineered for advanced sectors like electronics, optics, and thin-film deposition. This grade undergoes stringent purification to eliminate trace impurities, including other rare earth metals (e.g., cerium, neodymium), heavy metals (e.g., iron, copper), and anions (e.g., chloride, sulfate). Even minute contaminants can compromise the performance of precision devices such as semiconductors or optical coatings, so this grade’s impurity control is critical. Technical Grade, with a purity range of 95.0%–99.0%, prioritizes cost-efficiency for industrial uses like catalyst synthesis, glass manufacturing, and fertilizer additives. Reagent Grade, meeting ≥99.0% purity standards, is utilized in laboratories for analytical chemistry, research, and small-scale synthesis, ensuring accurate and reproducible experimental outcomes. At standard temperature and pressure, Lanthanum Nitrate typically exists as a white to pale yellow crystalline powder or in hydrated forms (e.g., La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, hexahydrate) as colorless, needle-like crystals. Its light color arises from the weak absorption of visible light by its ionic crystal structure, simplifying identification and handling in practical operations.

Physically, Lanthanum Nitrate exhibits characteristics that align with its diverse applications. The anhydrous form (La (NO₃)₃) is a white crystalline powder with a typical particle size of 150–300 mesh, enabling rapid dissolution in water, ethanol, and acetone. It has a molecular weight of 324.92 g/mol (anhydrous) and 433.01 g/mol (hexahydrate, La (NO₃)₃・6H₂O). The anhydrous form has a melting point of approximately 400°C (with decomposition), while the hexahydrate loses 结晶 water gradually when heated—first forming lower hydrates at 50–100°C and decomposing into lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) above 600°C. This thermal behavior makes it a convenient precursor for lanthanum oxide synthesis. The bulk density of anhydrous Lanthanum Nitrate is about 2.05 g/cm³, providing ease of handling and uniform dosing in industrial processes. A key physical property is its exceptional solubility: anhydrous Lanthanum Nitrate dissolves in water at a rate of ~100 g/100 mL at 20°C, forming clear, colorless solutions—essential for wet chemical synthesis, aqueous catalysis, and analytical procedures. The hexahydrate is even more soluble, though it exhibits strong hygroscopicity, absorbing moisture from the air to form viscous solutions if stored improperly. This hygroscopicity necessitates careful storage to maintain its crystalline form.

Chemically, Lanthanum Nitrate is defined by its stability and typical ionic salt reactivity. As a lanthanide(III) nitrate, it dissociates completely in aqueous solutions into La³⁺ and NO₃⁻ ions, enabling participation in various ionic reactions. It is stable under normal conditions but decomposes when heated: at temperatures above 400°C, it releases nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and oxygen, eventually converting to lanthanum oxide (2La(NO₃)₃ → La₂O₃ + 6NO₂↑ + 1.5O₂↑). This decomposition pathway is widely used to produce high-purity lanthanum oxide for electronics and optics. Lanthanum Nitrate reacts with strong bases (e.g., potassium hydroxide) to form insoluble lanthanum hydroxide (La(OH)₃) precipitates, a reaction employed in analytical chemistry to separate lanthanum from other metal ions (e.g., La(NO₃)₃ + 3KOH → La(OH)₃↓ + 3KNO₃). It also reacts with carbonate salts (e.g., ammonium carbonate) to form lanthanum carbonate (La₂(CO₃)₃), another insoluble product. Additionally, it serves as a precursor for other lanthanum compounds: reacting with oxalic acid yields lanthanum oxalate, and with phosphoric acid produces lanthanum phosphate—both critical intermediates in lanthanide material synthesis. Unlike some metal nitrates, Lanthanum Nitrate is not a strong oxidizer under normal conditions, reducing the risk of hazardous reactions with organic substances.

The industrial production of Lanthanum Nitrate primarily uses high-purity lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) or purified lanthanum-containing rare earth concentrates as raw materials, with the acid dissolution method being the most common. The process involves three core steps. First, raw material preparation: if using lanthanum oxide, it is crushed into fine powder (200–300 mesh) to maximize contact with acid; if using rare earth concentrates, they undergo solvent extraction or ion exchange to remove impurities like cerium, thorium, and heavy metals, ensuring a high lanthanum content. Second, acid reaction: the prepared raw material is mixed with dilute nitric acid (HNO₃, 30%–50% concentration) in a reaction vessel, with a molar ratio of La₂O₃ to HNO₃ of ~1:6. The reaction occurs at 60–80°C under stirring, following the equation: La₂O₃ + 6HNO₃ → 2La (NO₃)₃ + 3H₂O. This reaction is exothermic, so temperature is controlled via cooling to prevent excessive evaporation of nitric acid and nitrogen oxide emissions. Third, purification and crystallization: after complete reaction, the solution is filtered to remove undissolved impurities. The filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure at 50–70°C to a concentration of 50%–60%, then cooled to 0–10°C to induce crystallization of the hexahydrate (La (NO₃)₃・6H₂O). For anhydrous Lanthanum Nitrate, the hexahydrate is dried at 120–150°C to remove 结晶 water, then heated to 200–250°C under a dry nitrogen atmosphere to ensure complete dehydration without decomposition. The final product is crushed, screened to the desired particle size, and packaged according to grade specifications.

Lanthanum Nitrate’s applications span multiple industries, driven by its solubility and versatility. In the electronics industry, high-purity anhydrous Lanthanum Nitrate is a key precursor for lanthanum-based thin films, deposited via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or sol-gel methods to form dielectric layers in capacitors and transistors. It is also used as a dopant in piezoelectric ceramics, modifying their electrical properties to enhance performance in sensors and actuators. In the optical industry, it is employed in the synthesis of lanthanum-containing optical glasses—adding Lanthanum Nitrate increases the glass’s refractive index and Abbe number, reducing chromatic aberration in high-quality lenses for cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. In the catalyst industry, it acts as a precursor for lanthanum oxide-based catalysts, which improve the activity and durability of automotive exhaust catalysts (for NOₓ reduction) and petrochemical catalysts (for hydrocarbon cracking). In laboratory settings, Reagent Grade Lanthanum Nitrate is used in analytical chemistry for the quantitative determination of fluoride ions (via precipitation as lanthanum fluoride) and in lanthanide chemistry research, serving as a model compound for studying lanthanide ion coordination behavior. Additionally, it finds use in agriculture as a micronutrient additive in fertilizers—small amounts of lanthanum promote plant growth and enhance stress resistance in certain crops.

Safety-wise, Lanthanum Nitrate has low acute toxicity but requires proper handling to mitigate risks. Its dust or aqueous solutions can irritate the skin and eyes: direct contact may cause redness, itching, or mild chemical burns. Inhalation of dust can irritate the respiratory tract, leading to coughing or shortness of breath. While it is not highly flammable, decomposition at high temperatures releases toxic nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), which pose respiratory hazards. To ensure safety, operators should wear nitrile gloves (chemical-resistant), safety goggles, a lab coat, and a dust mask when handling the powder. When preparing solutions, work in a fume hood to avoid inhaling nitric acid fumes or nitrogen oxides from accidental decomposition. Storage should be in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, using airtight containers to prevent hygroscopic caking (for hexahydrate) or moisture absorption (for anhydrous). It should be stored separately from strong bases, reducing agents, and combustible materials to avoid unwanted reactions. In case of skin contact, rinse with plenty of water for 15 minutes; for eye contact, flush with water and seek medical attention if irritation persists. If inhaled, move to fresh air and rest; if ingested, do not induce vomiting and consult a doctor immediately. When stored properly (15–25°C, relative humidity<40%), anhydrous Lanthanum Nitrate has a shelf life of 2–3 years, while the hexahydrate has a shelf life of 1–2 years. Expired products may show reduced solubility, caking, or increased impurity levels and should be tested before use.

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

Key Features:

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

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

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

Chemical industrial catalyst: Lanthanum nitrate serves as an effective Lewis acid catalyst and is widely used in various organic transformation reactions, such as acetylation reactions of alcohols, phenols, and amines, as well as the synthesis of acetaldehydes and bis(indolyl) methane through the condensation of aldehydes and alcohols. It is also a key component in the preparation of petroleum catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, which helps to enhance the efficiency and quality of fuel production.

Efficient Phosphorus Removal Agent: Due to its chemical properties, lanthanum nitrate can effectively remove phosphate from water bodies through precipitation, which helps solve the problem of water body eutrophication. This property also enables its application as a swimming pool treatment agent to remove the phosphate required for algae growth.

Agriculture and Plant Science: Research has shown that a moderate concentration of lanthanum nitrate can regulate the content of vitamin C (Vc) in the fruits of crops such as strawberries. This is achieved by influencing the activities of key enzymes (such as GalLDH) in the biosynthesis, regeneration, and degradation pathways. It can also alleviate the inhibitory effect of alkaline stress and other environmental pressures on the growth of ryegrass, and promote plant growth by improving the content of photosynthetic pigments and the efficiency of photosynthetic electron transfer.

Functional material precursors and chemical synthesis intermediates: Lanthanum nitrate is a key precursor for the preparation of various advanced functional materials. It is used in the synthesis of optical glass, fluorescent powders, ceramic capacitor additives (such as strontium titanate lanthanum), and the preparation of lanthanum manganese oxide (LaMnO₃) films through sol-gel method or electrochemical deposition. Additionally, it is also an important intermediate raw material for the production of other lanthanum compounds (such as lanthanum oxide).

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