Anhydrous Cerium Chloride

Rare Earth Chlorides

Anhydrous Cerium Chloride, encompassing two primary valence states—anhydrous cerium(III) chloride (CeCl₃) and anhydrous cerium(IV) chloride (CeCl₄)—is a group of high-purity inorganic compounds in the cerium salt family, distinguished by their water-free composition, distinct redox properties, and specialized applications in materials science, catalysis, and electronics. Among the two, anhydrous cerium(III) chloride is the more stable and commercially prevalent variant, maintaining a consistent +3 oxidation state and exhibiting excellent solubility in anhydrous polar solvents. Anhydrous cerium(IV) chloride, by contrast, is thermally unstable (decomposing above 80°C) and highly reactive, limited to niche redox reactions. This introduction focuses on anhydrous cerium(III) chloride, the dominant form for industrial and laboratory use, as its water-free nature eliminates hydrolysis risks and ensures reliability in moisture-sensitive processes—such as anhydrous organic synthesis, molten salt electrolysis, and thin-film deposition.

Commercially, Anhydrous Cerium(III) Chloride is available in grades tailored to strict purity and moisture standards. High-Purity Grade, with a purity of ≥99.99% (4N) and ultra-high purity variants reaching 99.999% (5N), is engineered for advanced fields like semiconductor doping, high-performance catalysts, and optical thin films. This grade undergoes multi-step purification, including solvent extraction, ion exchange, and high-temperature dehydration under a dry hydrogen chloride (HCl) atmosphere, to eliminate trace impurities: other rare earth metals (e.g., lanthanum, neodymium), heavy metals (e.g., iron, copper), anions (e.g., sulfate, nitrate), and residual moisture (typically<0.1%). Even minimal contaminants or moisture can disrupt the performance of precision devices (e.g., cerium-doped semiconductors, solid oxide fuel cells), making strict quality control imperative. Technical Grade, with a purity range of 95.0%–99.0% and moisture content <0.5%, prioritizes cost-efficiency for industrial applications like metallurgical fluxes, ceramic sintering aids, and water treatment precursors. Reagent Grade, meeting ≥99.0% purity and <0.2% moisture standards, is used in laboratories for anhydrous organic synthesis, lanthanide coordination research, and moisture-sensitive analytical procedures. At standard temperature and pressure, anhydrous cerium(III) chloride exists as a white to pale yellow, free-flowing crystalline powder with no visible clumping—its uniform texture and light color, resulting from weak visible light absorption by its ionic crystal structure, simplify handling and visual inspection in industrial and laboratory settings.

Physically, Anhydrous Cerium(III) Chloride exhibits traits optimized for moisture-sensitive and high-temperature applications. It has a molecular weight of 246.48 g/mol (distinct from its heptahydrate counterpart, CeCl₃·7H₂O, which has a molecular weight of 372.58 g/mol) and a high bulk density of approximately 3.97 g/cm³, ensuring easy dosing and uniform mixing in dry formulations. Its particle size is tightly controlled, typically ranging from 100 to 300 mesh: finer grades (200–300 mesh) are used for applications requiring high surface area (e.g., catalyst supports), while coarser grades (100–150 mesh) are suitable for molten salt electrolysis. A defining physical property is its high solubility in anhydrous polar solvents: it dissolves readily in anhydrous ethanol, methanol, and acetonitrile (solubility ~75 g/100 mL in anhydrous ethanol at 20°C) and in water (solubility ~97 g/100 mL at 20°C) without residual undissolved particles. Unlike hydrated cerium(III) chloride, it exhibits only mild hygroscopicity when stored in sealed containers; however, exposure to humidity >50% causes gradual moisture absorption, leading to the formation of lower hydrates (e.g., CeCl₃·3H₂O), clumping, and reduced performance. Its thermal stability is exceptional: it has a melting point of ~802°C and a boiling point of ~1730°C, far exceeding that of hydrated forms (which decompose below 200°C), making it ideal for high-temperature processes like molten salt synthesis and ceramic sintering.

Chemically, Anhydrous Cerium(III) Chloride is defined by its stability, water-free reactivity, and mild reducing properties. As a lanthanide(III) chloride, it dissociates completely in anhydrous polar solvents or molten states into Ce³⁺ and Cl⁻ ions, enabling participation in moisture-sensitive ionic reactions. It is stable under dry conditions but undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of water to form insoluble cerium(III) hydroxide (Ce(OH)₃) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) if not controlled—hence the requirement for anhydrous solvents and dry environments during handling. When heated to temperatures above 400°C in the presence of oxygen, it undergoes partial oxidation to form cerium oxychloride (CeOCl); further heating above 800°C yields cerium(IV) oxide (CeO₂), a reaction widely used to synthesize high-purity CeO₂ for electronics and catalysis. It reacts vigorously with strong bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to form Ce(OH)₃ precipitates (CeCl₃ + 3NaOH → Ce(OH)₃↓ + 3NaCl) and with carbonate salts to form cerium(III) carbonate (Ce₂(CO₃)₃), reactions employed in analytical chemistry for cerium separation. Unlike anhydrous cerium(IV) chloride, it is a mild reducing agent (prone to oxidation to Ce⁴⁺ by strong oxidizers like hydrogen peroxide), expanding its utility in redox reactions while requiring separation from oxidizing agents during storage.

The industrial production of Anhydrous Cerium (III) Chloride primarily uses high-purity cerium (III) oxide (Ce₂O₃, purity ≥99.9%) as the raw material, following a three-step process optimized for moisture removal. First, acid dissolution: crushed Ce₂O₃ (100–200 mesh) is reacted with concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl, 30%–37% purity) in a dry reaction vessel at 80–100°C, with a molar ratio of Ce₂O₃ to HCl of 1:6. The exothermic reaction (Ce₂O₃ + 6HCl → 2CeCl₃ + 3H₂O) is temperature-controlled via cooling to prevent HCl evaporation. The resulting cerium (III) chloride solution is filtered to remove undissolved impurities (e.g., silica). Second, preliminary dehydration: the filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure at 60–80°C to a 50%–60% concentration, then cooled to 0–5°C to crystallize heptahydrate (CeCl₃・7H₂O). The crystals are filtered and dried at 120–150°C to remove surface moisture, forming low-hydrate CeCl₃ (e.g., CeCl₃・2H₂O). Third, deep dehydration: the low-hydrate CeCl₃ is heated to 250–300°C in a sealed reactor under a continuous flow of dry HCl gas. The HCl atmosphere suppresses hydrolysis (by preventing OH⁻ formation) and drives off residual 结晶 water, yielding anhydrous CeCl₃ with moisture content<0.1%. The product is cooled under dry nitrogen, crushed to the desired particle size, and packaged in airtight, moisture-proof containers (e.g., aluminum-lined polyethylene bags) to maintain anhydrous conditions.

Anhydrous Cerium(III) Chloride’s applications focus on moisture-sensitive and high-temperature fields. In the electronics industry, high-purity anhydrous CeCl₃ is used as a dopant in semiconductor manufacturing: dissolved in anhydrous solvents, it is deposited onto silicon wafers to modify electrical conductivity, enhancing integrated circuit performance. It is also a precursor for cerium-based thin films (e.g., CeO₂ dielectrics) via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), where its anhydrous nature ensures uniform film growth without moisture-induced defects. In materials science, it is a key component in molten salt electrolysis for metallic cerium production: mixed with anhydrous sodium chloride (NaCl) to lower the melting point to ~650°C, it enables efficient electrolysis to extract high-purity cerium—used in aerospace alloys and magnetic materials. In anhydrous organic synthesis, it acts as a Lewis acid catalyst for reactions like Friedel-Crafts alkylation and Diels-Alder cycloaddition, where its water-free composition prevents catalyst deactivation and side reactions (e.g., hydrolysis of intermediates). In the catalyst industry, it is a precursor for cerium-based catalysts, used in automotive exhaust systems to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions and in petrochemistry for hydrocarbon cracking. Additionally, it is used in laboratory research as a model compound for studying lanthanide ion behavior in anhydrous systems and for calibrating analytical instruments (e.g., inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, ICP-MS).

Safety-wise, Anhydrous Cerium(III) Chloride requires careful handling to avoid moisture exposure and chemical irritation. Its powder can irritate the skin and eyes: direct contact may cause redness or mild burns, especially if the powder has absorbed moisture (forming HCl). Inhalation of dust can irritate the respiratory tract, leading to coughing or shortness of breath. When in contact with water, it releases heat (though not violently), and prolonged exposure to air causes clumping. To ensure safety, operators should wear nitrile gloves (moisture-resistant), safety goggles, a lab coat, and a dust mask when handling the powder. All operations (e.g., weighing, dissolving) should be done in a dry glove box or fume hood with low humidity (<30%). Storage must be in airtight, moisture-proof containers in a cool (15–25°C), dry (<50% humidity) area, away from water, strong bases, and oxidizing agents. In case of skin contact, rinse with dry ethanol (to avoid hydrolysis) then water for 15 minutes; for eye contact, flush with water and seek medical attention. If inhaled, move to fresh air and rest; if ingested, do not induce vomiting and consult a doctor. When stored properly, anhydrous Cerium(III) Chloride has a shelf life of 2–3 years. Expired products may show clumping (indicating moisture absorption) or reduced solubility and should be tested for moisture content before use.

Descriptive:  WNX employs advanced automated production technology and uses high-quality raw materials to produce high-quality Anhydrous Cerium Chloride.

Key Features:

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

Good Solubility: Anhydrous Cerium Chloride can dissolve rapidly in water and strong acids.

Consistency: The strict batch management in the production of Anhydrous Cerium Chloride ensures stable quality for industrial large-scale production.

Chemical industry catalysts: Anhydrous cerium chloride, as a Lewis acid catalyst, is widely used in the petroleum catalytic cracking (FCC) process to enhance fuel production efficiency. In organic synthesis, it can be employed in Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions, Luche reduction reaction (selective reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in combination with sodium borohydride), and ketone alkylation reactions, effectively avoiding side reactions and improving product selectivity.

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

Batteries and energy materials: Anhydrous cerium chloride is an important precursor for preparing metallic cerium, which can be used in energy materials such as hydrogen storage alloys. It also plays a role in the synthesis of new energy materials like perovskite solar cells.

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