Cobalt sulfate

Cobalt sulfate with the chemical formula CoSO4.nH2O is an inorganic substance which can be 7 or 6 and the crystalline structure of cobalt sulfate is monoclinic. Heptahydrate cobalt sulfate color is a bright red and anhydrous CoSO4.nH2O is light pink. This compound is the most abundant and widely used cobalt salt.

The word cobalt is derived from the Greek word (cobalos). Until the twentieth century, cobalt metal has not been used widely. But about 2600 BC, one of the blue cobalt salts was used to paint glass and pottery in Egyptian tombs. George Brandt, a Swedish chemist, discovered cobalt in 1735 and extracted it from cobalt ores using a reduction procedure.

Cobalt element is not found in metal phase in nature, and its main minerals, including erythrite (Co3[AsO4]. 8H2O), Skutterudite (with the chemical formula FeS and contains cobalt and nickel), Safflorite (CoAs2), Cobaltite (CoAsS), and Linnaeite (Co2+Co3+2S4), occur in small amounts in nature.

Cobalt metal is usually produced as a byproduct in other metal extraction industries such as zinc, copper, iron. However, a small part of cobalt is extracted directly from mines in Niger, Congo, Zambia, Madagascar, Russia, and Canada and after processing in the factory, metal or cobalt compounds are produced.

The main uses of cobalt metal are in the production of strong magnets, the production of superalloys-steel used in aircraft engines, cemented carbides, magnetic alloys, the production of drill bits, and its composition are used in the production of pigments in glass, ceramics, and industrial equipment. The other cobalt applications are as a catalyst in the oil industry, and in the medical and agricultural industries. Also, it is used In the livestock industry, a small amount of cobalt sulfate is used to stimulate the production of B12 vitamins to increase lactation in ruminants.

Cobalt sulfate production method

CoSO4.nH2O can be produced by the reaction between sulfuric acid and cobalt oxide or hydroxide. After forming the CoSO4.nH2O solution, the product can be obtained by crystallization in polyethylene tubs or drying of the solution using a spray dryer.

The sale of cobalt sulfate is limited by its consumption and is generally not a widely used chemical.

Another way to produce cobalt sulfate is to recycle and refine this metal from the waste hot cake of zinc factories and other metal mining industries.

Cobalt in Iran

Iran does not have proven economic resources as a cobalt ore, and there is no producer with an exploitation license in the country, and the country needs cobalt metal and its compounds through imports, most of which are from the country. China is supplied. The most important source of cobalt in Iran is the hot cake waste of zinc factories, which on average contain 0.3% of cobalt metal.

Most of the cobalt products consumed in Iran include the following:

• Cobalt metal: for use in the production of steel super alloys
• Cobalt Sulfate: For consumption in livestock feed concentrate production
• Cobalt Phosphate: For use in the paint, glaze, and ceramic glaze industries
• Consumption and applications of cobalt sulfate
• Preparation of pigments and pigments
• Plating baths
• Production of other cobalt compounds such as carbonate, nitrate, phosphate, and cobalt oxide
• Feed the ruminants to stimulate vitamin B12 production and increase breastfeeding
• Battery making
• Production of sympathetic inks

The sale of copper sulfate of Hamun Industrial Group is done with the following specifications:

• Cobalt sulfate 21%
• Dry powder with mesh 100
• Packaging: 15 kg buckets
• 33% cobalt sulfate
• Dry powder with mesh 100
• Packaging: 15 kg buckets