Copper Sulfate Feed Additive: Production and Application

Copper Sulfate Feed Additive: Production and Application Copper sulfate (CuSO4·H2O) is an important feed additive, mainly providing the essential trace element copper for poultry.
Copper is essential for the synthesis of hemoglobin, the development of the nervous system and the function of the immune system of animals.

Production process overview Raw material preparation: Use copper-containing ores, such as pyrolusite or copper ore, and sulfuric acid as raw materials. Roasting reduction: Mix the ore with pulverized coal, roast and reduce at high temperature to produce copper oxide or copper sulfate.

Sulfuric acid leaching: The roasted copper oxide reacts with sulfuric acid to produce soluble copper sulfate. Impurity removal: By adding iron remover and manganese dioxide powder as oxidants, impurities such as Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, etc. in the solution are precipitated and removed.

pH adjustment: Control the pH value of the acidified solution to promote the hydrolysis of Fe2(SO4)3 and Al2(SO4)3 into hydroxide precipitation. Crystallization and purification: Cool the solution to crystallize copper sulfate, and obtain a high-purity copper sulfate solution by standing and filtering.

Drying and crushing: The solution is concentrated and dried to obtain copper sulfate crystals, which are then crushed into powder of suitable particle size.

Quality inspection: The product is quality inspected to ensure compliance with feed additive standards.

Packaging: Qualified products are packaged in a standardized manner to ensure stability during storage and transportation. Characteristics and application of copper sulfate Chemical form: Copper sulfate has two forms, copper sulfate monohydrate (CuSO4·H2O) and copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O), of which copper sulfate monohydrate is white with a slightly light blue powder, and anhydrous copper sulfate is light blue crystalline particles or powder. Solubility: Copper sulfate is highly soluble in water, and copper ions can diffuse in the moisture of the feed, which helps to improve bioavailability.

Bioavailability: Compared with other copper sources such as copper methionine and basic copper chloride, copper sulfate has a lower bioavailability. However, copper sulfate is still a common copper source in the feed industry due to its cost-effectiveness and easy handling.

Pro-oxidation effect: Copper sulfate has a strong pro-oxidation effect, and each crystal surface is an active and acidic site for oxidation reactions. Irritation: Copper sulfate monohydrate is less irritating to the small intestine, probably due to its lower pro-oxidative effect. Price and content: Basic copper chloride has a higher copper content and is more expensive than copper sulfate, but its solubility in water is poor, which may limit its use in some feed formulations.