The Application of Barite in the Chemical Industry

2016/04/08  Wang Yongsheng

      Barite is the most important industrial mineral for extracting barium and preparing barium compounds. The 17 main barium products have more than 2000 uses. Carbonate, chloride, nitrate, oxide, peroxide, hydroxide, sulfide, sulfate, organic salts are main barium compounds which are widely used in reagents and catalysts; sugar refining; textile filler, fireproof and waterproof material; vitamin, hormone and blood coagulant preparation; coagulant for synthetic rubber; phosphor binder on the glass of black television kinescope; agentia for beneficiation and paper production; oil and grease additive; magnesium melting and refining; recycling indium and zinc from waste residue; efflorescing prophylactic in ceramic and tile industry; glue and paste stabilizer; producing plastic, pesticide, herbicide, fungicide and all kinds of fireworks especially green fireworks, phosphor of fluorescent lamp; welding agent and steel surface quenching.

      Barium is used as a getter (deoxidizing agent) in television and other vacuum tubes. Barium and other metals (Al, Mg, Pb and Ca) can make alloy, barium, lead and calcium alloy which can be used in bearing manufacture.

     In the chemical industry and paint industry, the requirements for barite which is used to produce lithopone are BaSO₄＞92~95%, SiO₂<3%, CaO≤2～3.5% and trace amounts of fluorite. The fineness requirement for barite used in chemical plants is 4.76~0.84mm (4~20 meshs). If too small, it will be lost like dust; while if too thick, it can not be mixed with carbon sufficiently thus generate bad products in roasting. The particle size requirement for barite used in oil paint is less than 0.045mm (325 meshs). The grade classification of barite (rich ore or concentrate) for chemical industry is as following. As chemical raw material, it should not be lower than grade III.

      Grade Classification of Barite Used in Chemical Industry