Fabrication of Mg(OH)2 by Electrolysis Using MgCl2 Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Mg(OH)2 is usually used as a flame retardant agent, a heavy metal removing agent and a flue gas desulfurization agent in the field of environmental protection. In this work, Mg(OH)2 was prepared by electrolytic method using MgCl2 aqueous solution as the main raw materials. And the X-ray diffraction results proved that pure Mg(OH)2 crystals can be fabricated by the electrolysis method. The Mg(OH)2 prepared has two microscopic forms, shaped in block and elongated fibrous. The effects of concentration of MgCl2 solution, current density, temperature and time of electrolysis on the current efficiency and energy consumption in the electrolysis process were studied in this paper. Within the experimental range, current efficiency increased but energy consumption decreased with the increase of MgCl2 solution concentration, electrolysis temperature and time. The effects of current density on the current efficiency and energy consumption rested on the concentration of the MgCl2 solution and electrolysis temperature.