Copper sulfate pentahydrate
Nutritional Enhancers
Minerals & Trace Elements
7758-99-8
CuSO₄·5H₂O
$26.68 ~ $40.02
Food
Free sample from 100g(NF)
One unit of:25kg/bag
One unit of:25kg/bag
25kg/bag
Product Info
What is Copper sulfate pentahydrate?
It is the crystalline form of the inorganic copper salt used primarily as a nutritional supplement to provide the essential trace mineral copper in fortified foods and dietary supplements.
How is Copper sulfate pentahydrate made?
| Step No. | Production Stage | Key Action | Control Point & Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw Material Preparation | Sourcing and cleaning copper raw material (e.g., scrap, wire) and diluting concentrated sulfuric acid. | Purity of raw materials is critical. Copper must be free of reactive metal impurities like zinc or iron. Acid concentration must be precisely controlled. |
| 2 | Reaction & Dissolution | Reacting copper with hot sulfuric acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent (typically bubbled air) in a reactor. | Monitor and control reaction temperature (typically 85-95°C) and air flow rate to ensure efficient dissolution. Solution density (Baumé) is checked to track reaction progress. |
| 3 | Purification & Filtration | Pumping the hot copper sulfate solution through a filter press to remove unreacted solids and impurities. | The filtrate must be a clear, bright blue solution. Any turbidity indicates filtration failure, which will lead to impure final crystals. |
| 4 | Concentration | Heating the filtered solution in an evaporator to boil off excess water, increasing the copper sulfate concentration. | The solution is concentrated to a target specific gravity or saturation point. Over-concentration can cause premature, fine crystallization in the evaporator. |
| 5 | Crystallization | Transferring the hot, concentrated solution to crystallizer tanks for slow, controlled cooling. | The rate of cooling is the most critical parameter for crystal size. Slow cooling promotes large, uniform crystals; rapid cooling yields fine powder. |
| 6 | Centrifugation / Separation | Separating the formed crystals from the remaining liquid (mother liquor) using an industrial centrifuge. | Ensure efficient separation to achieve low moisture content in the crystal cake. The mother liquor is typically recycled back to the dissolution stage to recover value. |
| 7 | Drying | Gently drying the wet crystals in a fluid bed or rotary dryer using warm air. | Drying temperature must be kept low (typically below 60°C) to prevent driving off the water of hydration, which would degrade the blue pentahydrate product. |
| 8 | Sieving & Grading | Passing the dried crystals through a series of vibrating screens to sort them into different size grades. | Screen integrity is crucial. Final grades must meet customer specifications for particle size distribution (e.g., large, small, fine). |
| 9 | Quality Control & Packaging | Testing a sample of the final product for purity and other specifications before packaging. | Final product assay (CuSO₄·5H₂O content), heavy metals, and insolubles are tested. Product is packed in moisture-proof bags or containers to prevent clumping. |
Technical Specifications
| CAS Number | 7758-99-8 |
| Chemical Formula | CuSO₄·5H₂O |
| Solubility | soluble in water (32 g/100 mL at 20 °C); insoluble in ethanol |
| Storage Conditions | store in cool, dry, ventilated area protected from light and moisture |
| Shelf Life | 36 Months |
Applications & Usage
Common Applications:
used as copper fortifier in animal feed
food supplement
sometimes as processing aid in cheese
Mechanism of action:
| Parameter | Copper sulfate pentahydrate |
|---|---|
| Functional Category | Nutrient Supplement; Mineral Fortificant; Processing Aid (Firming Agent). |
| Key Ingredients | Copper(II) Sulfate Pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O). |
| Mechanism of Action | Supplies bioavailable copper (Cu²⁺), an essential trace mineral that serves as a cofactor for various metalloenzymes (e.g., cytochrome c oxidase, lysyl oxidase). In niche firming applications, Cu²⁺ ions form coordination complexes with pectic substances in plant tissues, creating cross-links that reinforce cell wall structure. |
| Application Effect in Product | Fortifies foods such as infant formulas or vitamin/mineral supplements to meet nutritional requirements. Historically used to improve firmness and fix color in certain processed vegetables, though this application is now highly restricted in many regions due to toxicity concerns. |
Comparison:
| Product Name | Category/Type | Key Features | Strengths (vs peers) | Weaknesses (vs peers) | Best Use Cases | Why Choose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper sulfate pentahydrate | Inorganic Salt / Fungicide / Algaecide | Blue crystalline solid, high water solubility, provides Cu²⁺ ions. | Inexpensive, highly soluble in water, versatile for many applications (liquid or solid). | High phytotoxicity risk if misapplied, corrosive, leaches easily from soil. | Algaecide in ponds and pools, root killer in sewer lines, livestock footbaths, preparing Bordeaux mixture. | When a cheap, highly soluble source of copper ions is needed for aqueous solutions. |
| Bordeaux Mixture | Fungicide / Bactericide Mixture | Suspension of copper sulfate and hydrated lime; forms a fine precipitate that adheres to surfaces. | Excellent rainfastness (adhesion), slow release of copper, lower phytotoxicity than pure copper sulfate. | Must be prepared fresh before use, can clog sprayers, primarily a protectant, not curative. | Preventative spraying of fruit trees, vines, and vegetables against fungal diseases. | For long-lasting, weather-resistant protection on plant surfaces. |
| Copper Hydroxide | Inorganic Compound / Fungicide | Bluish-green solid, very low water solubility, formulated as a wettable powder or liquid flowable. | Effective broad-spectrum protectant with good residual activity; less phytotoxic than Bordeaux on some crops. | Requires constant agitation in spray tanks to maintain suspension; less adherent than Bordeaux mixture. | Controlling bacterial and fungal diseases on vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals. | For a ready-to-mix, fixed copper fungicide with a good crop safety profile. |
| Copper Oxychloride | Inorganic Compound / Fungicide | Green crystalline solid, very low water solubility, stable compound with high copper content. | High fungicidal activity, very stable chemical, provides good residual disease control. | Low solubility requires specific formulation; potential for phytotoxicity on copper-sensitive plants. | Broad-spectrum disease control (leaf spots, blights, mildews) in agriculture and horticulture. | For a potent and stable fixed copper formulation for general crop protection. |
| Copper(I) Oxide (Cuprous Oxide) | Inorganic Compound / Antifouling Agent | Red powder, extremely low water solubility, very high percentage of copper by weight. | Highly effective and persistent due to low solubility; excellent antifouling properties. | Primarily for industrial uses, not typically used as a foliar spray in agriculture. | Active ingredient in antifouling marine paints, wood preservation, seed treatments. | For maximum longevity in antifouling or material preservation applications. |
| Chelated Copper (e.g., Copper EDTA) | Organometallic Compound / Micronutrient | Copper ion is protected by an organic molecule (chelate); highly soluble and stable. | High plant availability across a wide pH range, low phytotoxicity, efficient plant uptake. | Much more expensive than inorganic salts; primarily a nutrient, not a potent fungicide. | Correcting copper deficiencies in crops, especially in hydroponics or high-pH soils. | For efficient delivery of copper as a plant micronutrient without risk of soil lock-up. |
Technical Documents
Available Documentation
COA and monograph available
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
MSDS available
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Quality assurance documentation
Technical Data Sheet
Detailed technical specifications