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This product review covers primarily magnesium oxide (MgO or magnesia), with
additional data on magnesium hydroxide (Mg[OH]2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2),
magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 or Epsom salts) and precipitated magnesium carbonate
(MgCO3) as available. Magnesium chemicals are used in many different applications,
including refractories, agriculture (both as fertilizer and feed), production
of magnesium metal, water treatment, deicing, pigments and paints.
Magnesium oxide is the most commercially important of the magnesium chemicals.
China is the largest producer of magnesium oxide from natural magnesite, accounting
for more than one-third of the magnesium oxide produced in 2006. Large mineral
deposits of magnesite are located in China, the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea and Russia. In 2006, these countries accounted for over 50% of global
magnesite production. China’s abundant magnesite deposits result in most
of its domestic producers’ manufacturing magnesium chemicals from this
natural ore. Most companies produce refractory or fused magnesia from local
magnesite.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of magnesium oxide:
The majority of the magnesium oxide produced worldwide is consumed as refractory
magnesia. The primary use of refractory magnesia is in furnace linings in the
iron and steel industry.
Electrical-grade fused magnesia (EGM) is another important application of
fused magnesia. Its worldwide annual consumption is estimated to be around
95 thousand metric tons. With the exit of the U.S. company MINCO from the EGM
market, there are only two producers left in the Western Hemisphere—Peñoles
in Mexico and the UCM group of the United Kingdom.
The largest end use for magnesium hydroxide is in wastewater treatment and
flue gas desulfurization. Ease of handling, increasing environmental markets
and the high price level of caustic soda have spurred demand in these applications
over the past five years. This trend is expected to continue during the forecast
period 2006–2011.
The use of magnesium hydroxide in flame retardants is a fast growing application.
Global consumption of magnesium hydroxide in flame retardant applications is
estimated to be around 48 thousand metric tons per year, of which 75% is synthetic
material.
In the United States and Europe, the largest captive end use for magnesium
chloride is in the production of magnesium metal. The largest merchant end
uses for magnesium chloride are for dust control and deicing.
Magnesium sulfate is used in many different applications. Its main use is
as a fertilizer (mostly in the kieserite, or natural, form of magnesium sulfate).
It is also used in the consumer market as Epsom salts or “bathing salts,” in
industrial applications such as mining and fermentation, in the pulp and paper
industry, and as a salting-out agent for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
resins.
Precipitated magnesium carbonate is largely consumed in pigments, paints and
printing inks. In Japan, the largest market is as a rubber reinforcement. |
