Barium Carbonate Supplier

What Is Barium Carbonate?

Barium Carbonate (BaCO₃) is an inorganic barium salt — a white, odourless crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water (Ksp ~ 2.6 × 10⁻⁹). Barium carbonate is the most commercially important barium compound and serves as a precursor for essentially all other barium chemicals. Its low water solubility means it dissolves slowly in neutral water but reacts readily with acids to form soluble barium salts. In water chemistry, this controlled reactivity is exploited for sulfate removal. In ceramics and glass manufacture, barium carbonate is used directly as a raw material. In brick manufacture, it prevents efflorescence by reacting with soluble calcium and magnesium sulfates in clay to form insoluble barium sulfate before firing.

Sulfate Removal in Water Treatment

Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) is a common contaminant in industrial process water, mining water, and groundwater. High-sulfate water causes scaling in boilers, pipelines, and process equipment (calcium sulfate scale), and is problematic in water injection systems (barium sulfate scale in oilfield formation waters) and in process water feeding ion exchange systems. Barium carbonate is used to precipitate sulfate as barium sulfate (Ksp = 1.1 × 10⁻¹⁰ — one of the most insoluble common salts): BaCO₃ + SO₄²⁻ → BaSO₄↓ + CO₃²⁻. The resulting barium sulfate precipitate is separated by sedimentation and filtration. The method achieves very low residual sulfate and is used where other approaches (nanofiltration, gypsum crystallisation) are less practical.

Ceramic, Glass, and Brick Applications

In ceramic manufacturing, barium carbonate is added to clay bodies and glazes. In clay bodies, it acts as an anti-scumming agent — it reacts with soluble sulfates in the clay to form insoluble barium sulfate, preventing efflorescence (salt migration) to the fired brick surface. In ceramic glazes and frits, barium carbonate acts as a flux, modifying the melting range and surface qualities of the glaze. In glass manufacturing, barium carbonate is a component of optical glass, specialty glass, and cathode ray tube glass, where it increases refractive index and improves X-ray absorption. Terracore Chemicals supplies barium carbonate in 25 kg bags for ceramic, glass, and water treatment applications.