Lanthanum Carbonate: A Rare Earth Material from Medicine to Industry

Lanthanum carbonate, a silent contributor behind modern technology.

Lanthanum carbonate, a compound containing the rare earth element “Lanthanum,” appears as an ordinary white powder but is widely used in catalysts, optical materials, medical drugs, and water treatment technology.

Its properties are stable, it is sparingly soluble in water, and it can be transformed into other lanthanum compounds through heating, thus being regarded as an important raw material for many high-tech materials.

This article will guide you to understand what lanthanum carbonate is, its characteristics, how it is prepared, its specifications, and its uses in various fields, exploring the great value behind this small rare earth material together!

What is Lanthanum Carbonate?

Lanthanum carbonate is a water-insoluble hydrate that can be easily converted into other lanthanum compounds such as lanthanum oxide after heating (calcination). As a carbonate, it releases carbon dioxide when reacted with dilute acids.

Lanthanum is widely used in cracking catalysts, advanced ceramics, and green fluorescent materials. Lanthanum zirconate and lanthanum strontium manganite are used in related applications due to their good catalytic activity and conductivity.

In addition, lanthanum can bind with phosphate in water, making it suitable for water treatment applications.

Ultra-high purity and high-purity lanthanum carbonate help improve optical quality and the availability of research standard materials. High surface area forms such as nano-scale powders or suspensions can also be considered as alternatives.

Chemical Properties of Lanthanum Carbonate

• Chemical Formula: La2(CO3)3·xH2O
• CAS Number: 54451-24-0
• Density: 2.6 g/cm³
• Appearance: Slightly moist white powder
• Solubility: Insoluble in water, easily soluble in strong acids (inorganic acids)
• Molecular Weight: 457.85
• Stability: Hygroscopic, should be placed in a sealed container

Specifications of Lanthanum Carbonate Powder

※Supplement: What is TREO?

In natural rare earth ores, the total content of rare earth oxides (i.e., TREO, Total Rare Earth Oxides) is often regarded as a key indicator for judging whether a deposit is worth mining.

If the TREO content is too low, it indicates that the value of the rare earth products extracted from the ore is insufficient to offset the mining and processing costs, so it is usually considered economically unviable for mining.

TREO is not only used to evaluate ore quality but is also commonly used to represent the specifications and purity standards of refined and purified rare earth products.

Preparation of Lanthanum Carbonate

Main Applications of Lanthanum Carbonate

1. Medical Uses: Can be used as a pharmaceutical additive. Lanthanum carbonate can be used to make phosphate binders (such as lanthanum carbonate tablets), a class of drugs known as phosphate binders that help reduce the absorption of phosphate from the diet. It is used to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, helping to lower blood phosphorus levels, and can also be found in pet medications.
2. Raw Material for Lanthanum Metal Processing: Lanthanum carbonate can serve as a precursor for refining lanthanum metal. Pure lanthanum metal is obtained through reduction and other processes and is used in alloys, instruments, and hydrogen storage materials.
3. Glass Industry: Can be used to produce optical glass, improving refractive index and radiation resistance, suitable for camera lenses, telescope lenses, optical fibers, and special optical applications.
4. Catalysts: Can be used as a catalyst or an additive to catalysts, for example, in the catalytic cracking process in oil refining, improving the activity and stability of the catalyst.
5. Phosphors: Lanthanum carbonate can be used in the production of phosphors, applied in lighting equipment (such as fluorescent lamps) and displays.
6. Raw Material for Preparing Other Lanthanum Compounds: It is the starting point for the synthesis of various lanthanum compounds such as lanthanum oxide, lanthanum salts, and lanthanum-based ceramics, which can be further applied in electronics, ceramics, magnetic materials, etc.
7. Water Treatment: Lanthanum carbonate is also used in water purification. It can remove excess phosphate from wastewater, applied to inhibit algae growth, prevent water eutrophication, and help improve water quality.

Conclusion

In summary, the most significant medical application of lanthanum carbonate is as a drug to control hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease. Industrially, it serves as a raw material for the production of other lanthanum compounds and is widely used in glass, catalysts, phosphors, water treatment, and electronics.

Although lanthanum carbonate is not something that everyone comes into contact with on a daily basis, its importance in medical, technological, and other industries cannot be underestimated. Whether as a raw material for high-purity materials, a component of medical drugs, or playing a key role in glass, ceramics, or electronic components, the existence of lanthanum carbonate makes many high-end applications possible.

Hopefully, this introduction has given you a better understanding of this low-profile yet powerful little powder and shown you its potential and value!

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