Magnesium hydroxide is a white, odourless, inorganic alkaline compound, which has strong neutralizing properties compared to conventional neutralizing agents such as caustic soda. Magnesium hydroxide is abundantly found in nature in the form of brucite minerals or produced from brine sea water by the precipitation method. It finds variety of application across diverse set of industries. Some of the prominent applications include environmental applications such as flue gas desulphurisation and wastewater treatment. It provides superior and cost effective solution as a neutralizing agent in waste water treatment application, as compared to the conventional water treatment chemicals such as caustic soda. In flue gas desulphurisation, it is used as an absorber to recover sulphur di oxide from flue gas. Another protruding application of magnesium hydroxide is in pharmaceuticals. Its suspension, also known as milk of magnesia is used as an antacid or laxative to recover gastrointestinal illnesses. It also used as flame retardant or smoke suppressant in plastics such as polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene, etc. Its endothermic degradation at relatively higher temperature and thermal stability marks it a potential choice as an additive over other flame retardant additives present in the market. Other magnesium hydroxide applications include cellulose protector in pulp and paper industry, as a source of magnesium for different applications, manufacturing of magnesium salts, ceramic, food additives, and lubricants.
The increasing consumption of magnesium hydroxide in environmental applications is expected to be the primary driver for magnesium hydroxide market growth. Increasing wastewater treatment investment by oil & gas industries, chemical industries, power plants and municipal corporations, globally is anticipated to drive the magnesium hydroxide market growth, further. Besides, rising efforts of environmental organizations toward reducing the use of halogenated flame retardants is anticipated to drive the magnesium hydroxide market, over the forecast period.