Cobalt Sulfate Heptahydrate (CoSO₄·7H₂O)

Description

1. Product Overview

Cobalt Sulfate Heptahydrate (CoSO₄·7H₂O) is a high-purity, inorganic cobalt salt essential for advanced battery cathode manufacturing and precision electroplating. Its primary industrial use is as a precursor for lithium-ion battery materials (LiCoO₂, NMC) and as a critical trace element in animal feed and specialty pigments. The key value proposition lies in its consistent crystalline morphology and controlled impurity profile, which directly enhance cathode stability and electrochemical performance. As global EV adoption accelerates, securing a reliable source of high-grade cobalt sulfate is a strategic imperative for battery supply chain resilience.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical Formula: CoSO₄·7H₂O

• Molecular Weight: 281.10 g/mol

• Purity (Co): ≥ 20.5% – 21.5% (w/w) | Sulfate grade: Battery-grade (>20.8% Co min) / Electroplating-grade / Feed-grade

• Impurity Limits (Battery-grade max):

  • Copper (Cu): ≤ 5 ppm

  • Iron (Fe): ≤ 5 ppm

  • Lead (Pb): ≤ 5 ppm

  • Zinc (Zn): ≤ 5 ppm

  • Cadmium (Cd): ≤ 1 ppm

  • Water insolubles: ≤ 50 ppm

• Physical Form: Reddish-pink crystalline powder or free-flowing granules

• Bulk Density (tapped): 0.9 – 1.1 g/cm³

• Particle Size (D50): 100 – 500 µm (customizable upon request)

• pH (5% solution at 20°C): 4.0 – 5.5

• Packaging Options: 25 kg HDPE laminated bags; 500 kg FIBC (jumbo bags); 1,200 kg shrink-wrapped pallets; custom bulk liner bags for containers

• Shelf Life: 24 months from date of manufacture when stored in sealed, dry, non-acidic conditions (≤ 35°C, < 70% RH)

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Lithium-ion Battery Cathode Materials (Primary Use): Used directly to synthesize LiCoO₂ for high-density batteries and Ni-Mn-Co (NMC 811, 622, 532) cathodes. Outperforms cobalt oxide or acetate due to lower sulfate residue after calcination, yielding higher energy density and cycle life.

• Precision Electroplating & Surface Finishing: Provides uniform cobalt deposition in wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant alloy coatings (e.g., Co-W, Co-Mo). Superior throwing power and lower internal stress compared to chloride-based baths.

• Petrochemical Catalysts: Acts as a cobalt precursor for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts. Offers higher thermal stability during impregnation vs. nitrate-based alternatives, reducing VOC off-gassing.

• Animal Feed Additive (Trace Mineral): Essential for rumen microbial synthesis in cattle and vitamin B12 production in swine/poultry. Heptahydrate form provides superior bioavailability compared to carbonate or oxide.

• Ceramic & Pigment Production: Used for stable blue-violet glass and ceramic stains. Low iron content prevents color distortion—critical for high-value decorative applications.

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality Consistency: Sourced from DRC, Zambia, and refined in ISO 9001:2025-certified facilities. Each batch undergoes ICP-OES trace metal analysis and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance reporting. Lot-to-lot Co content variation ≤ 0.15%.

• Supply Reliability: Vertically integrated from mined cobalt hydroxide to heptahydrate crystallization. Dual-source refining contracts (Asia + Europe) mitigate geopolitical or logistics disruptions.

• Logistics Capability: Inventory hubs in Rotterdam, Shanghai, Houston, and Durban. Lead times: ≤ 14 days for container orders, ≤ 30 days for vessel-load bulk.

• Price Competitiveness: Pricing model = LME Cobalt Metal Price × conversion factor (4.38) + fixed conversion premium. Long-term (6–12 month) fixed-price or indexed contracts available. Volume discounts from 20 MT.

• Sustainability & Compliance: REACH, RoHS, and TSCA registered. Low-carbon cobalt certified upon request (≤ 15 kg CO₂e per kg Co). Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) manufacturing plants available for EU/US buyers.

• Technical Support: Includes certificate of analysis (CoA), SDS, impurity fingerprinting, custom milling/packaging, and anode/cathode performance modeling datasets for battery formulation customers.

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ):

  • Sample: 1 kg

  • Trial order: 1 MT (mixed pallets)

  • Standard commercial: 20 MT (full container load)

• Loading Capacity (MT per container):

  • 20 ft dry container (standard palletized): 22 MT net

  • 40 ft high-cube container: 26 MT net

  • Flexitainer (bulk liner): 20 MT net per 20 ft container

*Note: Cobalt sulfate heptahydrate is classified as Class 9, UN 3077 (Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, N.O.S.). Proper IMDG / ADR documentation provided with each shipment.*