Magnesium Chloride Solution

30% w/v MgCl2 Solution

30% Magnesium Chloride Solution is a liquid formulation containing 30% magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) by weight, dissolved in water. It is a versatile chemical used in various industries due to its properties, including high solubility, hygroscopic nature, and ability to lower the freezing point of water.

Key Properties of 30% Magnesium Chloride Solution

Chemical Formula: MgCl₂
Appearance: Clear, colourless to slightly yellow liquid
Hygroscopic: Attracts and retains moisture from the air.
Freezing Point Depression: Lowers the freezing point of water, making it ideal for de-icing and dust control.
Non-Corrosive Compared to Alternatives: Less damaging to surfaces and infrastructure than other chloride-based de-icing agents like calcium chloride or sodium chloride.

Common Uses of 30% Magnesium Chloride Solution

1. De-icing and Anti-icing

Used to melt snow and ice on roads, sidewalks, and driveways.
Applied as a pre-treatment (anti-icing) to prevent ice from bonding to surfaces.
Preferred over alternatives due to its lower corrosiveness and environmental impact.
See below for more information.

2. Dust Control

Applied to unpaved roads, construction sites, and mining areas to suppress dust by attracting moisture and binding fine particles.
Reduces air pollution and improves visibility in dusty environments.

3. Industrial Applications

Chemical Processing: Used as a source of magnesium in chemical reactions and industrial processes. For the manufacture of magnesium metal and other magnesium compounds.
Textiles: Acts as a stabilizer in dyeing processes.
Oil and Gas Industry: Used in drilling muds and as a weighting agent to stabilize wellbores.
Used to make sorrel cement.

4. Agriculture

Used as a magnesium supplement in fertilizers to correct magnesium deficiencies in soil.
Promotes plant growth by improving photosynthesis and nutrient absorption.

6. Water Treatment

Used in wastewater treatment to precipitate phosphorus and reduce pollution.
Acts as a coagulant in certain water purification processes.
Aquariums - see below for more information.

7. Health and Wellness

Occasionally used in therapeutic baths or sprays to relieve muscle tension and replenish magnesium levels in the body.

PLEASE NOTE: This product is not for human or animal consumption.

MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE IN MARINE AQUARIUMS:

Magnesium chloride hexahydrate is for adding magnesium to sea water. Severely low values of magnesium (900 mg/L or below) can cause low pH values and an inability to maintain proper alkalinity and calcium values. If magnesium becomes too low, coral growth will stop and followed by a decline in coral health. Carbonates and calcium are essential for all growth of corals, coralline algae, clams and invertebrates. Maintaining the correct magnesium values is very important and is indirectly responsible for coral and coralline algae growth by making it possible to maintain correct calcium, alkalinity and pH values. The magnesium content must often be increased, as shortfalls in the content can arise for various reasons. The normal magnesium content is around 1.30 - 1.40 mg/litre (1300-1400 ppm).

How to dose aquarium with magnesium chloride 30% solution

167ml will raise Magnesium levels by approximately 60ppm in 100 litres of salt water. It is not recommended to increase Magnesium levels by more than 60ppm per day. Simply mix the required amount into a few litres of Reverse Osmosis Water, slowly add to your tank in an area of high flow, preferably over a period of an hour. Alternatively add to your evaporation top up water and top up as normal.

Magnesium Chloride as a de-icer

Magnesium chloride is considered by some to the best overall ice melting compound. It is safe to use around plant life and it is less corrosive than other ice melting compounds. Magnesium chloride is a hygroscopic compound meaning it absorbs moisture. This allows the magnesium chloride to dissolve into a brine solution very quickly hence melting ice and snow very quickly. Relatively harmless to plant life, magnesium chloride is an environmentally friendly alternative for melting ice and snow. Magnesium chloride can effectively melt ice and snow in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius.

Magnesium chloride does not produce any residues that can damage carpets etc.

The product is simply applied by sprinkling the liquid over the ice. When used as a solution magnesium chloride has the added advantage of preventing ice forming on surfaces when applied before freezing. This solution can be sprayed at a rate of approx 5 sq m per litre.

Properties of magnesium chloride hexahydrate

CAS No.: 7791-18-6
EINECS: 232-094-6
Formula: MgCl2 6H2O
Purity: 99%
Mol weight: 203.3
Density: 1.569
Melting point: 117C
Water solubility: 2350 g/L (20 C)
Appearance:: Clear/ hazy liquid
pH: 8.4 270g/l at 20C)

Health & safety

Not a hazardous substance or mixture according to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008.

Click here to view MSDS

Click here to view Technical Specifications

Miscellaneous