Where does magnesium chloride come from?

1. Seawater Extraction

Seawater is rich in magnesium chloride, among other magnesium salts. The extraction process involves several steps:

Evaporation: Seawater is collected in large ponds where it undergoes evaporation due to heat from the sun or through artificial heating, concentrating the salts.

Precipitation: As the water evaporates, salts precipitate out. Magnesium chloride is one of the last salts to remain in solution.

Crystallization: The concentrated brine is further processed to precipitate magnesium chloride, which is then harvested and dried.

2. Brine Extraction

Underground deposits of salt (also known as brine) contain magnesium chloride in solution. The process for extracting magnesium chloride from brine is somewhat similar to seawater processing and includes:

Pumping: Brine is pumped to the surface from underground deposits.

Evaporation: The brine is heated, causing water to evaporate and salts to concentrate.

Crystallization: Through controlled evaporation and cooling, magnesium chloride crystallizes and can be separated.

3. By-Product of Other Processes

Magnesium chloride is also obtained as a by-product of the production of magnesium from other salts, such as magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide. The Dow process, which involves the electrolysis of magnesium chloride, is an example of such a production method.

Regardless of the source, the extracted magnesium chloride can be processed into various forms, including flakes, pellets, or powders, and utilized in numerous applications ranging from de-icing roads to dust control, food additives, and in the manufacturing of textiles, paper, and fireproofing materials. Given your business focuses on manufacturing and exporting chemical products, understanding the sources and extraction processes of magnesium chloride could be beneficial for exploring supply chains and production opportunities.