Cerium carbonate hydrate

Cerium carbonate hydrate (CAS 54451-25-1) is the hydrated form of cerium(III) carbonate, with the general formula Ce₂(CO₃)₃·xH₂O and an anhydrous molecular weight of approximately 460.3 g/mol.

Where is Cerium carbonate hydrate used?

• Automotive: precursor to cerium oxide (CeO₂) in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst formulations, where cerium contributes to vanadium passivation and SOₓ reduction
• Oil, gas and energy: catalytic precursor and antioxidant/stabiliser component; conversion to reactive cerium oxide intermediates supports refinery catalyst systems
• Building and construction: CeO₂ derived from this carbonate is applied in glass and ceramic polishing compounds, where sub-micron cerium oxide powder delivers controlled surface finishing performance
• Home care and industrial cleaning: cerium-based chemistry contributes antioxidant and stabilising functionality; the carbonate serves as an accessible cerium source for formulators developing peroxide-stabilising systems
• The material is also used as an intermediate in the synthesis of cerium(III) chloride (CeCl₃) and in incandescent lamp mantle production.

Good to know: The anhydrous form (CAS 537-01-9) is a closely related grade referenced in certain process specifications. Purity is expressed following the trade convention for rare earth materials; verification is conducted by elemental analysis, and loss on ignition (LOI) is a standard characterisation parameter for carbonate-form rare earth salts.

Commercial specifications

• Ce/TREO (total rare earth oxides basis) of 99–99.99 %
• TREO content of the carbonate salt itself typically 45–50 %
• High-purity designations such as those aligned with Solvay's High Purity Cerium Carbonate reference are available for applications demanding tighter elemental profiles
• Standard commercial packaging is 25 kg bags or drums, with bulk supply available in big-bag format (500–1,000 kg); smaller high-purity lots of 1–5 kg are also commercially available for laboratory and development use