Cerium Carbonate Hydrate
CeriumcarbonatehydrateREOwhitextl
- CAS
- 54451-25-1
- EC
- 676-523-9
- Sectors
- Automotive, Oil, Gas & Energy, Building & Construction, Home Care & Industrial Cleaning
Cerium Carbonate Hydrate (Ce₂(CO₃)₃·xH₂O; MW 604.38 g/mol) is a white to off-white crystalline rare earth carbonate belonging to the cerium(III) series. It is insoluble in water but dissolves readily in dilute mineral acids. Commercially available material is quoted on a rare earth oxide basis at Ce/TREO 99–99.99 %, with a total rare earth oxide (TREO) content of approximately 45–50 % in the hydrated salt. The anhydrous form (CAS 537-01-9) is a related grade used in certain downstream processes.
Its primary industrial function is as a precursor compound: controlled calcination converts it to cerium dioxide (CeO₂) polishing powder or catalyst-grade oxide, while acid digestion yields cerium salt intermediates including cerium(III) chloride. Ignition loss (LOI) is a standard characterisation parameter for purity verification of carbonate-form rare earth materials.
Cerium Carbonate Hydrate
Applications
- Automotive: Serves as a calcination feedstock for cerium oxide used in three-way catalytic converters and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst formulations requiring controlled Ce/TREO purity.
- Oil, Gas & Energy: Used as a precursor for FCC additive oxides that promote sulfur reduction and hydrocarbon conversion efficiency in refinery cracking units.
- Building & Construction: Converted to CeO₂ polishing powder for precision finishing of architectural glass, flat glass panels, and coated glazing products.
- Home Care & Industrial Cleaning: Functions as a starting material for cerium-based abrasive compounds incorporated into glass and hard-surface polishing formulations.
- Automotive: Acts as an intermediate for cerium(III) chloride production, which feeds downstream catalyst and specialty chemical manufacturing chains.
- Oil, Gas & Energy: Applied in incandescent mantle production where cerium oxide derived from the carbonate contributes to luminous efficiency at high operating temperatures.
Safety & Risks
Not classified as hazardous under GHS. Handle as a fine powder: use dust-suppression measures, ensure adequate ventilation, and wear dust mask, safety glasses, and gloves. Store in a cool, dry location away from strong acids.
Packaging
25 kg fiber drums or polyethylene-lined bags; 500–1,000 kg big bags for bulk orders. Small-lot quantities available in sealed 1–5 kg bags. Store dry.