Magnesium oxide

Magnesium oxide (CAS 1309-48-4), also known as magnesia or E530, is a high-temperature inorganic compound sourced from the calcination of magnesite or seawater-derived magnesium hydroxide. It functions as a pH regulator, refractory material, and nutrient source across a broad range of industrial and food-grade applications. In steelmaking and cement production, dead-burned magnesia grades line furnaces.

These grades are essential for kilns where extreme heat resistance is required. Agricultural feed producers incorporate it as a magnesium supplement to prevent grass tetany in livestock and improve animal health. Food manufacturers use E530-grade material as an anti-caking agent and acidity regulator in processed products. Water treatment operations dose it to neutralize acidic effluents and stabilize pH levels.

This compound offers stabilization without the sharp reactivity of lime. Pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulators rely on USP and BP grades as an antacid active and mild abrasive in oral care products. Magnesium oxide is supplied as a white powder in light-burned, hard-burned, and dead-burned forms. Each is calcined at different temperatures to deliver distinct reactivity and surface area profiles.

These profiles are suited to specific end uses across various sectors. Standard commercial grades include food-grade, Ph.Eur., and technical or refractory grades for heavy industrial manufacturing. Bulk bags, drums, and loose bulk supply are standard packaging formats across global markets. This ensures reliable logistics for large-scale chemical distribution and specialized manufacturing needs.