High Purity 99% LiNO3 Lithium nitrate CAS 7790-69-4

What is Lithium nitrate? How does it work?

Lithium nitrate (LiNO3) is a nitrate of lithium, a white crystalline salt That has the properties of lithium-ion as well as nitrate-oxidizing. It is used as a heat storage medium in the form of molten salts in solar thermal power plants, and it contributes to the red flame in fireworks, and inhibits alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete. It is a versatile lithium salt used in modern new energy, building materials, fireworks, refrigeration, and metallurgical industries.

Standard identification information: Molecular Formula: LiNO3 Molecular Weight: 68.95 CAS Number: 7790-69-4 EINECS Number: 232-218-9 HS Code: 28342990 UN 2722 (Class 5.1 Oxidizing solids, Packaging Category III)

Lithium nitrate is a white trigonal crystal which is hygroscopic. It has a density of 2.38 g/cm3, a melting point of 264℃ and a boiling point of 600℃ (decomposes). It is highly soluble in water (approx. 70.1 g/100 ml at 20℃, up to 175 g/100 ml at 60℃) and also soluble in ethanol, pyridine and ammonia. The aqueous solution is neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7-9).Chemically, lithium nitrate is a strong oxidizing agent (Hazard Class 5.1): nitrate ions decompose at high temperatures, releasing oxygen, which may cause combustion upon contact with combustibles, reducing agents, or metal powders (hazard code R8); lithium ions, however, endow it with unique "lithium effects," such as reducing melting point in molten salts, inhibiting alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete, and absorbing and dehumidifying moisture. It is incompatible with strong acids and organic matter. Storage must be airtight and moisture-proof, away from combustibles and reducing agents.

From the perspective of its mechanism of action, industrial-grade lithium nitrate plays an irreplaceable role due to its combination of nitrate oxidizing properties and lithium ion characteristics. The mechanisms of action in different applications are as follows:

1.Meltdown and heat transfer mechanism of molten salt (multi-component eutectic system)

Lithium nitrate has a melting point (264℃) lower than that of sodium nitrate (308℃) and potassium nitrate (334℃). When it is combined with NaNO3/KNO3 in a certain proportion to form a multi-element eutectic salt, the melting point can be reduced to the range of 120-200℃, which widens the working temperature window of the liquid state. At the same time, it improves the specific heat capacity and heat transfer efficiency of the molten salt, making it a key component of solar thermal storage and metallurgical molten salt.

2.Nitrate ion oxygen-supplying oxidation mechanism (combustion support and red color development)

Nitrate (NO3-) decomposes at high temperatures to release active oxygen, providing an oxidant for combustion and propulsion reactions; lithium ions give the flame a characteristic red color (lithium flame test), and have the dual function of "oxygen supply and combustion support + red coloration", making them an ideal choice for oxidants in fireworks and propellants.

3.Lithium-ion inhibition mechanism (ASR control in concrete)

Lithium ions can react with alkali silica gel to form stable lithium silicates with low solubility and low expansion which can inhibit the expansion and cracking of alkali-aggregate reaction (ASR) in concrete . Lithium nitrate is a lithium salt that is easily soluble, readily releases lithium ions in full and is easy to add. Therefore, it is a frequently used lithium source for lithium-based ASR inhibitors.

4.Moisture absorption and dissociation mechanism (drying/antistatic)

Lithium nitrate is highly hygroscopic, which can absorb moisture from the air for dehumidification and drying. Lithium nitrate aqueous solution is composed of lithium ion and nitrate ion, and the ionic conductivity makes the material have antistatic property. It can conduct away static charge from the surface ion layer upon absorbing moisture.

5.Lithium source reaction mechanism (lithium salt synthesis)

Lithium nitrate, as an easily soluble and decomposed lithium source, can introduce lithium ions into target products (other lithium salts and lithium-based chemicals) through reactions such as metathesis and thermal decomposition. It is an important intermediate raw material for the preparation of various lithium compounds in lithium chemistry.

In summary, industrial-grade lithium nitrate is a typical representative of "oxidizing lithium salts". Due to the combination of the oxidizing properties of nitrate and the characteristics of lithium ions, it has applications in many industrial fields, from solar thermal energy storage to concrete, from fireworks to metallurgy, including new energy, building materials, fireworks and fine chemicals.

What are the applications of industrial-grade Lithium nitrate?

1.Thermal storage and heat transfer medium of molten salt for solar thermal power generation (key application in new energy field)

Application Field: Solar thermal electricity generation (CSP), industrial heat transfer and energy storage

Corresponding Products: Ternary molten salt (LiNO3-NaNO3-KNO3) thermal storage medium; molten salt storage tanks and heat exchange systems for tower/trough CSP plants; heat transfer fluids for industrial waste heat recovery

Applicability Principle: Lithium nitrate (264℃) melts at a lower temperature than sodium nitrate/potassium nitrate. It can greatly decrease the freezing point of molten salt and enlarge the liquid operating temperature window after multi-element eutectic processes. At the same time, it enhances the specific heat capacity and thermal stability of the molten salt, enabling CSP plants to produce electricity at night. It is a key ingredient for next generation high temperature molten salt thermal storage.

2.Concrete alkali-aggregate reaction inhibitor (main application for building materials)

Application Field: Concrete Engineering and Building Materials

Corresponding Products: Lithium concrete admixtures, ASR (Alkali-Silica Reaction) inhibitors, hydraulic dam and bridge concrete anti-cracking formulations

Applicability Principle: Lithium nitrate has high solubility and can release lithium ions completely. Lithium ions can react with alkali-silica gel and form low-expansion and stable lithium silicate, which inhibits alkali-aggregate reaction and prevents concrete from cracking. It is one of the more common sources of lithium for lithium-based ASR inhibitors (the other two being lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate) and is suitable for long-life concrete projects.

3.Oxidants for pyrotechnics and signal flames (core application in the pyrotechnics industry)

Application Field: Fireworks industry and signaling equipment

Corresponding Products: Red fireworks/confetti shells, signal flares, torches and lighting flares, stage fireworks

Applicability Principle: Lithium nitrate is both a nitrate oxidant (decomposes at high temperatures to release oxygen and aid combustion), and its lithium ions produce a characteristic red flame reaction during combustion. It serves two purposes, making it a classic oxidant and colorant for red flame fireworks products.

4.Liquid ammonia stabilizer for refrigeration system (Refrigeration industry)

Application Field: Refrigeration industry and cryogenic engineering

Corresponding Products: Ammonia refrigeration systems (cold storage, ice storage), liquid ammonia stabilizer, absorption refrigerant systems

Applicability Principle: Adding lithium nitrate to liquid ammonia can inhibit the decomposition and corrosive side reactions of ammonia, stabilize refrigerant performance and prolong the system life. It is a popular stabilization additive for ammonia refrigeration systems.

5.Glass etchants and raw materials for phosphors (industrial optics)

Application Field: Display lighting and industrial optics

Corresponding Products: Glass etching solution (display panel / optical component processing), phosphor (energy-saving lamps / monitors / scintillators), optical glass modification

Applicability Principle: Lithium nitrate solution can be used for gentle etching of glass surface for precision machining. The Li+ ions entering the phosphor matrix can improve the luminous efficiency and color purity. It is an important lithium source for industrial optical materials.

6.Ceramic flux (ceramic industry)

Application Field: Ceramic industry

Corresponding Products: Ceramic glazes and fluxes, special ceramics, electronic ceramics, enamel

Applicability Principle: The lithium ions have small radii and high electric field strengths. Lithium nitrate (or its decomposition products) is a commonly used lithium component for ceramic flux modification, since it reduces the sintering temperature, refines grains and improves the thermal expansion matching in ceramic formulations.

7.Molten salt baths and heat treatment media (metallurgy)

Application Field: Metallurgical and heat treatment industries

Corresponding Products: Metal quenching/annealing salt baths, non-ferrous metallurgical molten salt electrolyzers, metal surface treatment molten salts

Applicability Principle: Nitrate molten salt baths use lithium nitrate. The uniform heat transfer and thermal stability of the molten salt are used in quenching, annealing and other heat treatments of metals. At the same time, the lithium ions can also enhance the performance of the molten salt and are widely used in metallurgical molten salt systems.

8.Desiccants and dehumidifiers (drying and dehumidification field)

Application Field: Industrial Drying & Air Dehumidification

Corresponding Products: Liquid dehumidification air conditioning dehumidification solution (lithium salt system), industrial gas desiccant, moisture absorption desiccant

Applicability Principle: Lithium nitrate is very hygroscopic, readily absorbing water from the surrounding atmosphere. Lithium salt aqueous solutions are excellent moisture absorbing components for liquid dehumidifying air conditioning and industrial drying systems due to their low vapor pressure, strong moisture absorption capacity and regenerability.

9.Anti-static agents (electronics industry and textile manufacturing)

Application Field: Electronic manufacturing, textile industry

Corresponding Products: Antistatic coating/film, antistatic treatment agent for electronic devices, antistatic finishing agent for textiles

Applicability Principle: Lithium nitrate aqueous solution has ionic conductivity, containing lithium ions and nitrate ions. By applying a coating on the material surface, a conductive ionic layer is created, which can drain static charge, avoiding damage to electronic devices and textiles due to static electricity build-up.

10.Raw material for production of lithium salts and lithium compounds (lithium chemical industry)

Application Field: Chemicals and fine chemicals of lithium

Corresponding Products: Other lithium salts (including high purity lithium carbonate and lithium phosphate), lithium-based fine chemicals and specialty lithium compounds

Applicability Principle: Lithium nitrate is a commonly used lithium source that is easy to dissolve and decompose, and can introduce lithium ions into the target products through metathesis and thermal decomposition reactions, and is an important intermediate raw material for the preparation of various lithium compounds.

To summarize, industrial-grade lithium nitrate (LiNO3, CAS 7790-69-4) is the typical representative of “oxidizing lithium salts”. It has mature applications in solar thermal molten salt storage, concrete ASR suppression, fireworks oxidizers, propellants, ammonia refrigeration stabilizers, glass etching and phosphors, ceramic fluxing, metallurgical molten salt baths, drying and dehumidification, antistatic agents and lithium salt production with its “nitrate oxidizing properties + lithium ion characteristics”. It has multiple functions such as reducing the melting point of molten salt, oxygen supply and color development, suppressing lithium ions, absorbing and dehumidifying moisture. It is an irreplaceable lithium salt variety in new energy and special industries.