Magnesium hydroxides

In a detailed mechanistic study of Mg(OH)2 dehydroxylation, Gordon and Kingery [245] precede consideration of their kinetic data with an 

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Magnesium hydroxide is precipitated from a solution of magnesium chloride solution, using slaked lime. It is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of  

Seawater contains dissolved magnesium chloride — about 400 m are required to produce 11 of Mg(OH)2- Dissolved carbon dioxide is first removed by acidifying the sea water to pH 4 to prevent the precipitation of calcium carbonate when milk of lime is added. 

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Reaction (1) usually proceeds readily provided the magnesium is activated with iodine and the water content does not exceed one per cent. Subsequent interaction between the magnesium ethoxide and water gives the highly insoluble magnesium hydroxide only a slight excess of magnesium is therefore necessary. 

Magnesium Hydroxide. Magnesium hydroxide [1309-42-8] is another metal hydrate that decomposes endothermically, accompanied by the formation of water. It decomposes at 330°C, which is 100°C higher than alumina trihydtate, and can therefore be used in polymers that ate processed at higher temperatures. 

Magnesium hydroxide is white, has an average particle size of 1—10 p.m, density of 2.36 g/mL, refractive index of 1.58, and Mohs hardness of 2.00. Water loss on ignition is 31.8 wt %. Magnesium hydroxide contains 1.0 wt % Ca(OH)2 and is made by Solem Industries and Morton Thiokol (25). 

F. Molesky in Recent Advances in Flame Retardamy of Polymeric Materials, Stamford, Coim., 1990 F. Molesky, "The Use of Magnesium Hydroxide for Flame Retarded Low Smoke Polypropylene," Polyolefins IHInternational Conference, Feb. 24,1991, Houston, Tex. 

Mag nesia. ndAlumina. Suspension. A mixture of salts, available as Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, and Aludrox, contains magnesium hydroxide [1309-42-8] Mg(OH)2, and variable amounts of aluminum oxide in the form of aluminum hydroxide and hydrated aluminum oxide, ie, 2.9—4.2% magnesium hydroxide and 2.0—2.4% aluminum oxide, Al O, for a mixture of 4.9—6.6% combined magnesium hydroxide and aluminum oxide. This mixture may contain a flavoring and antimicrobial agents in a total amount not to exceed 0.5% (see Aluminum compounds, aluminum oxide). 

The magnesia and alumina suspension is prepared by treatment of an aqueous solution, containing aluminum and magnesium salt in the desired proportion, with sodium hydroxide. The coprecipitated aluminum and magnesium hydroxides are collected by filtration, washed free of soluble salts, and stabilized by the addition of a suitable hexatol. 

Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate may be prepared by neutralization of sulfuric acid with magnesium carbonate or oxide, or it can be obtained directly from natural sources. It occurs abundantly as a double salt and can also be obtained from the magnesium salts that occur in brines used for the extraction of bromine (qv). The brine is treated with calcium hydroxide to precipitate magnesium hydroxide. Sulfur dioxide and air are passed through the suspension to yield magnesium sulfate (see Chemicals frombrine). Magnesium sulfate is a saline cathartic. 

Aqueous work-up of the typical Grignard reaction gives a mixed magnesium hydroxide—haUde solution or suspension which must be disposed of. The cost of disposal of the acidic aqueous waste in accordance with local wastewater treatment regulations must also be considered. 

Data on the solubihty of magnesium hydroxide in water are not all in agreement, but the solubihty is extremely low. The extent of Mg(OH)2 solubihty is 10 mg/L, which is about 1/100 the solubihty of Ca(OH)2. In concentrated solutions of NH Cl and NH CO, the solubihty of Mg(OH)2 is markedly increased, but in no instance does its solubihty equal that of MgCO in water heavily permeated with CO2. Dolomitic hydrates are slightly less soluble than high calcium hydrates, but much nearer the latter in value than Mg(OH)2, because the presence of MgO and Mg(OH)2 does not impede the dissolution of its Ca(OH)2 constituent. 

Metallic magnesium and water [7732-18-5] react. Under normal atmospheric conditions or in pure or chloride-free water of high pH, the reaction is suppressed by the formation of an insoluble magnesium hydroxide [1309-42-8] film. 

Molten magnesium chloride can be formed by the direct carbochlofination of magnesium oxide obtained from the calciaation of magnesium carbonate ores or magnesium hydroxide [1309-42-8]. 

In neutral and alkaline environments, the magnesium hydroxide product can form a surface film which offers considerable protection to the pure metal or its common alloys. Electron diffraction studies of the film formed ia humid air iadicate that it is amorphous, with the oxidation rate reported to be less than 0.01 /rni/yr. If the humidity level is sufficiently high, so that condensation occurs on the surface of the sample, the amorphous film is found to contain at least some crystalline magnesium hydroxide (bmcite). The crystalline magnesium hydroxide is also protective ia deionized water at room temperature. The aeration of the water has Httie or no measurable effect on the corrosion resistance. However, as the water temperature is iacreased to 100°C, the protective capacity of the film begias to erode, particularly ia the presence of certain cathodic contaminants ia either the metal or the water (121,122). 

Preparation and Manufacture. Magnesium chloride can be produced in large quantities from (/) camalhte or the end brines of the potash industry (see Potassium compounds) (2) magnesium hydroxide precipitated from seawater (7) by chlorination of magnesium oxide from various sources in the presence of carbon or carbonaceous materials and (4) as a by-product in the manufacture of titanium (see Titaniumand titanium alloys). 

In preparation of MgCl2 from seawater, magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, is first precipitated from seawater by the addition of dolime or lime. This is then treated with hydrochloric acid to produce a neutralized magnesium chloride solution. The solution obtained is evaporated and converted into soHd magnesium chloride hexahydrate (60,61). 

Properties. The physical properties of magnesium hydroxide are Hsted in Table 8. The crystalline form of magnesium hydroxide is uniaxial hexagonal platelets (Fig. 4). Magnesium hydroxide begins to decompose thermally above 350°C, and the last traces of water are driven off at higher temperatures to yield magnesia. 

Upon exposure to the atmosphere, magnesium hydroxide absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide. Reactive grades are converted to the basic carbonate 5MgO 4CO2 XH20 over a period of several years. Grades that resist carbonization at high temperature and humidity have been reported (71). 

Chemica.1 Properties. The reactivity of magnesium hydroxide is measured primarily by specific surface area in units of /g and median particle size in p.m. Reactivity ranges from low, 1-2 /g, 5 p.m, eg, Kyowa s product to high, 60-80 /g, 5—25 pm, eg, Barcroft s CPS and CPS-UF... 

Manufacture and Processing. Most commercial-grade magnesium hydroxide is obtained from seawater or brine using lime or dolomitic... 

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