The most traditional methods of zinc oxide manufacturing include direct and indirect processes. However, due to the high benefits of zinc oxide, people have also invented chemical methods for producing zinc oxide.
Wet Chemical Process
The first chemical method for producing zinc oxide is the wet chemical process that is also called the wet precipitation method. During the process, the zinc salt solution will be precipitated to zinc oxide.
It means that this method will need a zinc salt solution that can be made by dissolving soluble zinc salt such as zinc sulfate or zinc chloride in water. The zinc salt solution will be added with an alkaline solution such as sodium hydroxide to form zinc hydroxide. To convert zinc hydroxide into zinc oxide, the zinc hydroxide must be subsequently calcined or heated.
The wet chemical process has a benefit in zinc oxide manufacturing because manufacturers can be more versatile about particle size control. With this method, manufacturers can also produce various zinc oxide grades to meet customers’ needs. That is why rubber and coating manufacturers prefer zinc oxide produced by this method because they need zinc oxide with specific particle sizes or for surface treatments.
Spray Pyrolysis Process
The next process is called the spray pyrolysis process. During this process, a precursor solution that contains zinc will be atomized in a heated reactor chamber. The precursor solution usually consists of zinc salt that is dissolved in a specific solvent.
When the atomized solution is processed in the reactor, it will undergo speedy evaporation and pyrolysis to form zinc oxide particles. The zinc oxide particles can be processed as needed after getting collected.
By using this spray pyrolysis process, particle size, composition, and morphology can be controlled precisely. It is possible to produce ultrafine zinc oxide particles that have a narrow size distribution with this zinc oxide manufacturing method. The result of this method is great for advanced ceramics, catalysts, and the electronics industry.
