Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, also known as sulfadiazine, bitter salt, esperidin, or Epsom salt (chemical formula MgSO4·7H2O), is a white or colorless needle-like or oblique columnar crystal, odorless, cool, and slightly bitter. It decomposes upon heating, gradually losing its water of crystallization to become anhydrous magnesium sulfate. It is mainly used in the manufacture of fertilizers, leather, printing and dyeing, catalysts, papermaking, plastics, porcelain, pigments, matches, explosives, and fireproof materials. It can be used in the printing and dyeing of fine cotton and silk fabrics, as a weighting agent for cotton fibers, and as a filler in kapok products. In medicine, it is used as Epsom salt.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

PRODUCT USAGE

food

As a food fortifier, it is stipulated in China that it can be used in dairy products, with a usage level of 3-7g/kg; in beverages and milk drinks, the usage level is 1.4-2.8g/kg; and in mineral beverages, the maximum usage level is 0.05g/kg.

industry

When used in combination with calcium salts in water for yeast, adding 4.4g per 100l of water can increase the hardness by 1 degree. However, excessive use can lead to a bitter taste and the production of hydrogen sulfide odor.

It is used in leather making, explosives, paper making, porcelain production, fertilizer, and as an oral laxative in medical treatment, as well as a mineral water additive.

agriculture

Magnesium sulfate is used as a fertilizer in agriculture because magnesium is one of the main components of chlorophyll. It is commonly used for potted plants or crops that are deficient in magnesium, such as tomatoes, potatoes, roses, etc. The advantage of magnesium sulfate over other fertilizers is its higher solubility. Magnesium sulfate is also used as bath salts.