Resumen de Magnesia products under the radar

Industrial Minerals

• While deadburned magnesia (DBM) holds the largest share of the magnesia market, interesting opportunities are arising in caustic calcined magnesia (CCM) production. This market is set to expand as a greater need for CCM in animal feed and fertilisers, arises on the back of changing diets in emerging economies and a growing middle class.

  The bulk (approximately 90%) of CCM production is based on natural magnesite and destined largely for agricultural applications, such as animal feedstuffs and fertilisers (involving grades in the 85 - 90% MgO range) or for bulk industrial applications, such as construction and paper processing (90 - 95% MgO). The uses for magnesia as a refractory mineral or as filler in animal feed are well known, though not so well reported is the use of magnesium hydroxide, or brucite, which is used in chemical applications and as a fire retardant.

  The remaining 10% of CCM production based on seawater/brine includes both high (+99% MgO) and medium (+96% MgO) purities for specialised industrial applications ranging from chemicals, pharmaceuticals, anti-scorch agents, steel coating and environmental uses. Indeed, water and effluent treatment has been a major growth area in recent years. Production of brine-based CCM is concentrated in the US, Japan and Israel.