Ferric Chloride is the chloride of the Iron (III) form. It has various kinds of applications. In industry, it can be used in sewage treatment and drinking water production (for example, used for arsenic removal); used as a leaching agent in chloride hydrometallurgy; for etching copper in two-step redox reactions to copper (I) chloride and then to copper chloride during production of printed circuit boards; as the catalyst for the synthesis of ethylene dichloride from the reaction of ethylene with chlorine. In laboratory, it is commonly employed as a Lewis acid for catalysing reactions such as chlorination of aromatic compounds and Friedel–Crafts reaction of aromatics. The ferric chloride test can be used as a traditional colorimetric test for phenols. Ferric chloride can also be applied for the determination of total cholesterol and cholesterol esters. In disease field, it can be used to induce arterial thrombosis for thrombosis research. It can also be used for decolorization of disperse and reactive dye solutions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron(III)_chloride#Uses
Hering, Janet G., et al. "Arsenic removal by ferric chloride." Journal 88.4(1996):155-167.
Chiamori, N, and R. J. Henry. "Study of the ferric chloride method for determination of total cholesterol and cholesterol esters. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 31.4(1959):305-309.
Wang, X., and L. Xu. "An optimized murine model of ferric chloride-induced arterial thrombosis for thrombosis research. Thrombosis Research 115.2(2005):95-100.
Kim, Tak Hyun, et al. "Decolorization of disperse and reactive dye solutions using ferric chloride. Desalination 161.1(2004):49-58.
Iron(III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl
3.6H
2O) may be employed as an oxidant for the following conversions:
- Synthesis of 2-substituted 4(3H)-quinazolinones (yield = 77-93%).
- Oxidation of 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) to corresponding pyridines.
- Oxidation of 4-isopropyl-1,4-DHP to dealkylated pyridine.
Iron(III) chloride hexahydrate is used to prepare organically templated iron phosphates. It is used for sewerage treatment of industrial wastes, chloride hydrometallurgy (Silgarin process for the production of silicon), drinking water production, production of precursors for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and copper-based metals in printed circuit boards. It plays an important role in photoengraving and photography as an etching agent. It is useful as a mordant in dyeing and printing textiles. It is useful in the detection of phenols and phenolic derivatives; gamma-hydroxybutyric acids and also in the Trinder spot test for detecting salicylic acids.
:Iron chloride hexahydrate can be used in clinical reagents (amino acids in urine).
ChEBI: A hydrate that is the hexahydrate form of iron trichloride.
Iron chloride hexahydrate is mainly used as water treatment agent, corrosive agent in printing plate making, electronic circuit board, chlorinating agent in metallurgical industry, oxidant and mordant in dye industry, catalyst and oxidant in organic synthesis industry, chlorinating agent, It is the raw material for the manufacture of other iron salts and pigments and used in mine beneficiation. It is used as a flocculant in the purification of drinking water and industrial water supply. It has good solubility and excellent flocculation effect. Can be used for activated sludge dewatering. The pH range used is 6 to 11, and the optimum pH range is 6 to 8.4. The usual dosage is 5-100 mg/L. The flocs formed are coarse, the sedimentation speed is fast, and it is not affected by temperature. It is used to treat wastewater with high turbidity, and the effect is more significant. The corrosiveness of Iron chloride hexahydrate is stronger than that of ferrous sulfate, and the dosing equipment needs to be treated with anticorrosion.
When it dissolves in water, it produces hydrogen chloride gas, which pollutes the surrounding environment. In addition, Iron chloride hexahydrate can also be used as a waterproofing agent, a corrosive agent for printing and plate making, an oxidant and mordant in the dye industry, a catalyst for organic synthesis, and the manufacture of other iron salts. It can be used as etchant, catalyst, mordant, oxidant, chlorinating agent, condensing agent, disinfectant, hemostatic agent, feed additive, water purifying agent and analytical reagent, etc. Iron chloride hexahydrate is used in nutritional supplements (iron fortifiers). For infant milk powder, weaning food, etc.
The iron catalysts are known to be inexpensive and environmentally benign.
An aqueous solution, saturated with the salt at room temperature, is cooled to -20o for several hours. Separation of the crystals is slow, even with scratching and seeding, and it is generally necessary to stir this overnight. The presence of free HCl retards crystallisation. [Linke J Phys Chem 60 91 1956].
