Features and Uses:

Magnesium sulfate, also known as Epsom salt, bitter salt, or瀉利鹽 (xie li yan), generally refers to magnesium sulfate heptahydrate in industrial contexts. It appears as small white oblique or columnar crystals, odorless with a bitter taste, and a relative density of 1.68. It is highly soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol, and easily effloresces into a powder in dry air. It is a magnesium-containing compound.
Product Uses:
(1) Agriculture
Magnesium is a crucial component of chlorophyll and is essential for photosynthesis. It aids in crop growth and high yields. It not only supplies magnesium and sulfur but also loosens the soil. Magnesium is a vital element for improving productivity and agricultural output and must be replenished promptly. It is commonly used for potted plants or magnesium-deficient crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, and roses. The advantage of magnesium sulfate over other fertilizers is its higher solubility.
(2) Animal Husbandry
Feed-grade magnesium sulfate serves as a magnesium supplement in feed processing. Magnesium is an indispensable factor for bone formation and muscle contraction in livestock and poultry. It acts as an activator for various enzymes and plays a critical role in material metabolism and neural functions. A deficiency in magnesium can lead to metabolic and neural disorders, supply imbalances, impaired growth, and even death in animals.
(3) Industry
Used as a synthesis aid for ABS and PVC resins, in papermaking, printing, and dyeing industries. Additionally, it is employed in industrial wastewater treatment to coagulate and settle waste liquids, helping them meet discharge standards. In the leather industry, it serves as a filler to enhance heat resistance. In dyeing, it is used as a fabric dyeing agent, weighting agent, and mordant. In fireproof materials, it acts as a flame retardant for plastics like acrylic resins. The anhydrous or low-hydrate forms are suitable for syntheses and mixtures where water content must be minimized. In organic chemistry, it is used as a desiccant and dehydrating agent. It is also applied in dyeing fine cotton and silk fabrics as a weighting agent and filler for kapok products.
(4) Pharmaceutical Industry
In pharmaceuticals, magnesium sulfate is processed into laxatives, anticonvulsants, magnesium trisilicate, midecamycin, acetylspiramycin, inosine, and other drugs.
(5) Light Industry
Used in the production of fresh yeast, monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial snow, beverages, mineral water, bath salts, detergents, shampoos, etc.
(6) Food Industry
In the food industry, magnesium sulfate is used in the production of lactic acid, MSG, etc.
 
Alias: Magnesium sulfate (anhydrous); Magnesium sulfate; Magnesium sulfate, anhydrous