Magnesium oxide, Heavy, Light, Calcined, Magnesium Monoxide, Magnesia, Calcined Magnesia 1309-48-4

🧪 Chemical Identity, Structure & Production

Magnesium Oxide (MgO) is a white, odorless, hygroscopic inorganic compound composed of magnesium and oxygen ions. It is known for its high thermal stability, ionic bonding, and wide industrial relevance.

🔬 Chemical Profile

• Chemical Name: Magnesium Oxide

• CAS Number: 1309-48-4

• EC Number: 215-171-9

• Molecular Formula: MgO

• Molar Mass: 40.305 g/mol

• E Number (Food Additive): E530

• Natural Form: Periclase (mineral)

• Appearance: White powder or crystalline solid

• Melting Point: ~2800 °C

• Boiling Point: ~3600 °C

• Density: 3.58 g/cm³

• Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; insoluble in ethanol; soluble in acids and ammonium salts

• pH (saturated solution): ~10.3

⚗️ Production Methods

1. Natural Extraction:

   • Mined as periclase from magnesite ores

   • Crushed, purified, and calcined

2. Synthetic Routes:

   • Calcination of Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂):

Mg(OH)2→ΔMgO+H2O\text{Mg(OH)}_2 \xrightarrow{\Delta} \text{MgO} + \text{H}_2\text{O}

• Thermal decomposition of Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO₃):

MgCO3→ΔMgO+CO2\text{MgCO}_3 \xrightarrow{\Delta} \text{MgO} + \text{CO}_2

• Brine Reaction (MgCl₂):

  • Heated to ~1700 °C

  • Produces MgO and HCl

  • Followed by slaking, washing, and filtration

🔁 Reversible Reaction

• MgO reacts with water to form magnesium hydroxide:

MgO+H2O→Mg(OH)2\text{MgO} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Mg(OH)}_2

• Upon heating, Mg(OH)₂ reverts to MgO, enabling cyclic use in various processes.

🏥 Health, Nutrition & Pharmaceutical Applications

Magnesium Oxide plays a vital role in human health, particularly in digestive, cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems.

💊 Medical Uses

• Antacid: Neutralizes stomach acid, alleviates heartburn and indigestion

• Laxative: Draws water into intestines, softens stool, relieves constipation

• Magnesium Supplement: Treats deficiency, supports metabolic and enzymatic functions

• Bone Health: Enhances calcium absorption, reduces osteoporosis risk

• Cardiovascular Support: Regulates blood pressure, stabilizes heart rhythm

• Neurological Benefits: Used in migraine, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and diabetic neuropathy

🍽️ Nutritional Relevance

• Daily Requirement:

  • Adults: 320–420 mg/day (varies by age, gender, health status)

• Bioavailability:

  • Lower than citrate or glycinate forms

  • High elemental magnesium content

• Natural Dietary Sources:

  • Spinach, almonds, avocados, cashews, pumpkin seeds

⚠️ Safety & Dosage

• Recommended Dose: 350–400 mg/day

• Side Effects (High Dose):

  • Nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fatigue

• Precautions:

  • Adequate water intake

  • Avoid long-term use without medical supervision

  • Contraindicated in renal impairment

🏭 Industrial & Chemical Applications

Magnesium Oxide is indispensable in high-temperature, chemical, and structural applications due to its refractory nature and chemical versatility.

🔧 Industrial Uses

🧪 Chemical Industry Roles

• Catalyst Support: Surface polarity aids hydrocarbon reactions

• Lubricant Additive: Reduces friction, stabilizes viscosity

• Polar/Non-Polar Compound Synthesis: Used in ceramic composites and superconductor matrices

• Multivitamin Formulations: Common in OTC supplements due to high Mg content

🌍 Environmental Impact & Sustainability

Magnesium Oxide is considered environmentally stable and contributes positively to ecological balance.

🌱 Environmental Profile

• Natural Stability:

  • Found as periclase; non-toxic and inert

• Industrial Waste Management:

  • Refractory waste is solid and manageable

  • Filtration and containment minimize environmental load

• Magnesium Cycle:

  • Participates in soil mineral balance

  • Enhances plant growth and nutrient uptake

• Agricultural Use:

  • Soil amendment for magnesium-deficient soils

  • pH regulation and nutrient enrichment

♻️ Sustainability Notes

• MgO is part of the natural mineral cycle

• Its use in agriculture and construction supports long-term ecological health

• Low environmental footprint when sourced and processed responsibly

💅 Cosmetic, Consumer & Regulatory Aspects

Magnesium Oxide is increasingly used in personal care, cosmetics, and regulated consumer products.

💄 Cosmetic Applications

• Skin Care:

  • Exfoliating agent in scrubs and masks

  • Anti-inflammatory properties reduce redness and irritation

• Hair Care:

  • Scalp detoxifier

  • Strengthens hair follicles, reduces hair loss

• Product Types:

  • Facial cleansers, masks, shampoos, conditioners, tonics

📜 Regulatory Status

• Food Additive Approval: E530

• Pharmaceutical Grade: GMP/ISO certified

• Cosmetic Safety: Generally recognized as safe (GRAS)

• Labeling Requirements:

  • Must declare MgO content

  • Purity and heavy metal limits must be specified

📦 Commercial Grades, Forms & Packaging

Magnesium Oxide is available in various commercial grades, each tailored for specific industrial or pharmaceutical applications. These grades differ in terms of purity, reactivity, particle size, and production temperature.

🔄 Common Commercial Grades

📦 Packaging Options

• 25 kg paper or PE-lined bags

• 500 kg or 1000 kg big bags

• Custom packaging for pharma or food grade (HDPE drums, fiber drums)

• Palletized and shrink-wrapped for export

📑 Documentation & Regulatory Compliance

To ensure safe handling, trade, and regulatory alignment, Magnesium Oxide must be accompanied by proper documentation.

📄 Essential Documents

🌐 Global Trade, Sourcing & Supply Chain

Magnesium Oxide is traded globally, with major producers and exporters located in Asia, North America, and Europe.

🌍 Major Producing Countries

• China: Largest global producer (CCM, DBM, EFM grades)

• Turkey: Natural magnesite reserves, calcined MgO production

• USA & Canada: High-purity DBM and fused MgO

• India: Technical and food-grade MgO

• Japan: Specialty grades (Kyowamag, UBE)

📦 Trade Considerations

• HS Code: 2519.90 (Natural MgO), 2816.10 (Synthetic MgO)

• Incoterms: FOB, CIF, DDP depending on region

• Lead Time: 2–6 weeks depending on grade and origin

• MOQ: Typically 1 MT for industrial, 25–100 kg for pharma/food

📈 Stage 9: Market Trends & Strategic Outlook

Magnesium Oxide demand is growing due to its versatility and alignment with sustainability goals.

📊 Key Trends

• Refractory demand driven by steel and cement sectors

• Pharma & nutraceutical growth due to rising health awareness

• Eco-friendly construction materials using MgO boards

• Battery-grade MgO under R&D for solid-state batteries

• Increased demand for high-purity MgO in electronics and semiconductors

🧠 Summary & Strategic Positioning

Magnesium Oxide is not just a basic inorganic compound—it is a strategic material with cross-sectoral relevance.

✅ Strategic Advantages

• High thermal and chemical stability

• Broad regulatory acceptance (E530, GRAS, REACH)

• Versatile in form and function

• Sustainable and recyclable

• Compatible with circular economy goals

🧪 Product Variants & Functional Differentiation

Magnesium Oxide is marketed under hundreds of trade names and functional variants, each optimized for specific performance criteria.

🔍 Functional Variants

• High Purity MgO: For electronics, semiconductors, and pharma

• Nano MgO: Enhanced surface area, used in catalysis and biomedical applications

• Heavy Grade MgO: High bulk density, used in ceramics and glass

• Light Grade MgO: Low bulk density, used in food and pharma

• Encapsulated MgO: Controlled release in agriculture and pharma

• Fused MgO Crystals: Used in optical and thermal insulation applications

🏷️ Common Trade Names

• Maglite, Kyowamag, Magox, BayMag, FloMag, Elastomag, Mag Chem, Micromag, UBE, Starmag, Pyrokisuma

• Each brand may offer multiple grades (e.g., Maglite D, Maglite S, Maglite CG1)

📊 Quality Control & Specification Parameters

Ensuring consistent performance across applications requires rigorous quality control and specification tracking.

📋 Key Parameters

CAS: 1309-48-4

Molecular Formula: MgO

Names and Identifiers

Physico-chemical Properties

Risk and Safety

Upstream Downstream Industry

Nature

White fine crystals. The relative density is 3. 19~3. 71; The melting point is 2800 ℃; The magnetization coefficient is -0.008 × 10-6. Almost insoluble in water, soluble in dilute acid. Moisture and carbon dioxide are readily absorbed in the air.

Preparation Method

The waste from the production of heavy Magnesium oxide is sent to the reactor, and hydrochloric acid is added to react to generate hexachloride, and then sodium carbonate is added to generate basic magnesium carbonate. After washing, it is calcined at high temperature, cooled and crushed, magnetic magnesium oxide was prepared.

Standard

This product shall be calculated by burning to constant weight, and the content of MgO shall not be less than 96.5%.

Trait

• This product is white or off-white powder; Odorless, tasteless; Can slowly absorb carbon dioxide in the air.
• This product is almost insoluble in water or ethanol; Dissolved in dilute acid.

Introduction

It is divided into light and heavy. Lightweight volume fluffy, odorless, tasteless and non-toxic. It is difficult to dissolve in pure water and organic solvents, and its solubility in water increases due to the presence of carbon dioxide. Soluble in acid and ammonium salt solutions. In case of carbon dioxide in the air, magnesium carbonate double salt is generated. The heavy mass is compact in volume, easy to combine with water, and easy to absorb moisture and carbon dioxide in the exposed air. It is easy to gel and harden when mixed with magnesium chloride solution.

Use

for Radio high frequency magnetic rod antenna, instead of ferrite. Can also be used for the manufacture of refractory fibers and other refractory materials.

Differential diagnosis

This product of dilute hydrochloric acid solution of magnesium salt identification reaction (General 0301).

Safety

The material of the product packaging bag is required to be wear-resistant and not easy to break, and the bag mouth should be sealed when packaging. It is packed in double-layer bags, with plastic bags on the inner layer and woven bags on the outer layer. The weight of each bag can be 25kg, 30kg, 40kg or 80kg. The finished product must be stored in a warehouse free from moisture. Transport equipment must be kept clean, and have rain-and snow-proof facilities. Humidity and contamination must be prevented during transport.

Exam

apparent volume

take 15.0g of this product, add a simple amount, without vibration, the volume of not less than 100ml.

alkalinity

take this product l.O g, add 50ml of water, boil for 5 minutes, take advantage of heat filtration, filter residue is washed with appropriate amount of water, wash and human filtrate, add several drops of Methyl red indicator solution and sulfuric acid titration solution (0.05mol/L)2.0, the solution should change from yellow to red.

color of solution

take this product l.O g, add 15ml acetic acid and 5ml water, boil for 2 minutes, cool, add water to make 20 m l, if turbid, filter, the solution should be colorless; If color, shall not be deeper than the yellow-green No. 2 Standard Colorimetric solution (General rule 0901 first method).

chloride

take 1.0 of the test solution under the calcium oxide item, dilute it with water to 2 5 m l, and check it according to law (General Rule 0 8 0 1 ) , and standard sodium chloride solution 5. Compared with the control solution made of 0M l, it should not be more concentrated (0 .1%).

sulfate

take the test solution under the item of calcium oxide 2. 0ML, diluted to 20 m l with water, checked according to law (General 0802), and standard potassium sulfate solution 3. Compared with the control solution made of 0 M l, it should not be more concentrated (0 .3%).

carbonate

take 0.10g of this product, add 5ml of water, boil, cool, add acetic acid 5 m l, do not bubble boiling.

insolubles in acid

take 2.0g of this product, add 25ml of hydrochloric acid, heat it in a water bath to dissolve it, add 105 ml of water, and filter it through a No. 4 vertical melting crucible dried to constant weight at °C, the filter residue was washed with water until the washing solution showed no reaction of the vaporized product. At 105X, it was dried to constant weight, and the residual residue should not exceed 2.0mg(0.10%).

soluble substances

take this product l.O g, add 100ml of water, boil for 5 minutes, filter while hot, filter residue is washed with a small amount of water, combine the filtrate and wash, put it in an evaporating dish dried to constant weight by 105X, and put it on a water bath to evaporate, in 105X: dry to constant weight, the remaining residue should not pass 2 .0%.

ignition weight loss

take 0.50g of this product, burn to constant weight, and lose no more than 5 .0% of weight.

calcium chloride

take the new burning cold of this product 5. Add water 3 0 m l and acetic acid 7 0 m l and mix well, boil for 2 minutes, let cool, filter, filter residue is washed with dilute acetic acid, combine filtrate and wash, in a 10 0 m l measuring flask, dilute to the scale with dilute acetic acid, and shake well to serve as a test solution. Accurately measure 1 0 m l, add water 3 0 m l, add triethanolamine solution (3- lo n o m l and 45% potassium hydroxide solution 1 0 m l, place for 5 minutes, add calcium red indicator 0. l g, with ethylene diamine four sodium acetate titration solution (0. O lm o l/L) The titration was carried out until the solution turned from magenta to blue and the results of the titration were corrected with a blank test. Each lm l of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium titration solution (O .O lm o l/L) is equivalent to 0.5 6 0 8 m g of CaO, this product contains no more than 0. 50% calcium oxide.

Iron Salt

take 50mg of this product, add 2M l of dilute hydrochloric acid and 23ml of water to dissolve, check according to law (General rule 0807), and standard iron solution 2. 5M l of the control solution should not be deeper (0.05%).

manganese salt

take this product l .O g, add 20ml of water, 5ml of nitric acid, 5ml of sulfuric acid and lm l of phosphoric acid, heat and boil for 2 minutes, let it cool, and add potassium palmitate 2. Og, then boil for 5 minutes, cool, move into 50 M l colorimetric tube, with non-reducing water (3M l nitric acid and Potassium periodate 5g per 1000ml of water, boil for 2 minutes, cool) dilute to the scale, shake; With standard manganese solution (take anhydrous manganese sulfate that is burned to constant weight at 400-500°C. 275g, put in 1000ml measuring flask, add appropriate amount of water to dissolve and dilute to the scale, shake. Each lm l is equivalent to O. 10 mg of M n )0 .3 0M l compared with the control solution prepared by the same method, no deeper (0. 003%).

Heavy metals

take this product 0.50g, Add 10ml of dilute hydrochloric acid and 5ml of water, heat and dissolve, boil for 1 min, let it cool, filter, add 1 drop of phenolphthalein indicator solution to the filtrate, add appropriate amount of ammonia test solution Dropwise until the solution is light red, add acetate buffer (pH 3.5) 2M l and water to make 25ml, add ascorbic acid 0. 5 g after dissolution, check according to law (General Principles 0821 The first law), placed for 5 minutes colorimetric, heavy metals should not exceed 20 parts per million.

arsenic salt

take this product 0.5 0G, add hydrochloric acid 5 m l and water 2 3 m l to dissolve, check according to law (General Rule 0 8 2 2 2 first law), should comply with the regulations (0. 0 0 0 4).

Content determination

take this product 0.4g/precision weighing, precision plus sulfuric acid titration solution (0 .5M o l/L)25ml dissolved, add methyl orange indicator solution 1 drop, with sodium hydroxide titration solution (lm o l/L) titration, and the titration results with blank test correction. According to the amount of sulfuric acid consumed, the amount of sulfuric acid that should be consumed by the mixed calcium oxide (CaO) is subtracted, that is, the amount of sulfuric acid consumed by M gO in the Test amount. Each lm l of sulfuric acid titrant (0.5 m o l/L) corresponds to 20.15mg of MgO or 28.04 mg of CaO.

Category

pharmaceutical excipients, fillers and p H value regulator.

Storage

sealed storage.

Introduction

Magnesium oxide is a white solid with the chemical formula MgO. It has high melting point, high thermal stability and corrosion resistance. The following is a description of the nature, use, formulation and safety information of Magnesium oxide:
Nature:
1. Magnesium oxide is non-toxic, but inhalation of high concentrations of dust may cause respiratory irritation.
2. It is a kind of insoluble in water material, almost no reaction in water.
3. Magnesium oxide has high hardness and high melting point, and is an excellent refractory material.
4. It has excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties.
Use:
1. Magnesium oxide is mainly used as a refractory material for industrial fields such as high-temperature furnaces, glass kilns and steel smelting.
2. It is also used as an electrical insulating material for the manufacture of electronic products such as wires and cables, televisions and computer monitors.
3. Magnesium oxide can be used as a pharmaceutical additive in the field of biomedicine, with analgesic, antidiarrheal and anti-acid properties.
Preparation Method:
1. Magnesium oxide can be prepared by calcining Magnesium salts (such as Magnesium chloride and Magnesium sulfate). At high temperatures, Magnesium salts decompose to form Magnesium oxide and gaseous by-products.
2. Another method for preparing Magnesium oxide is to react Magnesium metal with oxygen to produce a corresponding oxidation reaction.
Safety Information:
1. Magnesium oxide is a relatively safe chemical, but it may cause skin dryness and irritation under prolonged or heavy exposure.
2. In the operation of Magnesium oxide, should avoid inhalation of dust, if necessary, wear appropriate protective equipment.
3. If Magnesium oxide is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately.
In General, Magnesium oxide is an important refractory material with a wide range of uses in many industries and application fields. Safety precautions need to be taken when using and handling Magnesium oxide.