Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Chemical Formula | As Content | Occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenopyrite | FeAsS | 46% | Hydrothermal veins, gold deposits | Most abundant arsenic mineral |
| Realgar | As₄S₄ (AsS) | 70% | Volcanic sublimations, hot springs | Red color, photosensitive |
| Orpiment | As₂S₃ | 61% | Low-temp hydrothermal veins | Yellow color, historical pigment |
| Copper Smelter Dust | Mixed oxides | 5-20% | Byproduct of Cu smelting | Major commercial source |
Primary Arsenic Minerals
Current Market Price: $4,000-5,000/MT for arsenic trioxide (99% purity) Major Global Production: Peru: 27,000 MT (45% of world production) - Leading producer China: 24,000 MT (40% of world production) - Major producer and exporter Morocco: 6,000 MT (10% of world production) - Cobalt-arsenide ores Russia: 1,500 MT - From copper smelting 2025 Global Production: ~60,000 MT arsenic trioxide equivalent Raw Material Form Chemical Formula As Content Occurrence Notes Arsenopyrite FeAsS 46% Hydrothermal veins, gold deposits Most abundant arsenic mineral Realgar As₄S₄ (AsS) 70% Volcanic sublimations, hot springs Red color, photosensitive Orpiment As₂S₃ 61% Low-temp hydrothermal veins Yellow color, historical pigment Copper Smelter Dust Mixed oxides 5-20% Byproduct of Cu smelting Major commercial sou
⚠️ Seawater Arsenic Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 1-2 ppb (0.001-0.002 ppm) - extremely low Chemical Form: As(V) arsenate, As(III) arsenite, organic forms Status: No commercial extraction of arsenic from seawater exists globally. The extremely low concentration makes extraction uneconomical compared to mineral sources. Note: Unlike some elements successfully extracted from seawater, arsenic remains impractical due to its trace concentrations.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT As₂O₃ | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Material (Ore/Dust) | $800-1,500 | 25-30% | Varies by source and As content |
| Energy (Roasting/Processing) | $600-1,000 | 20-25% | See detailed breakdown below |
| Labor | $400-600 | 12-15% | Specialized handling required |
| Environmental Controls | $800-1,200 | 25-30% | Strict emission controls |
| Other Costs & Overhead | $400-700 | 10-15% | Maintenance, safety equipment |
| Total Production Cost | $3,000-5,000 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $4,000-5,000/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Temperature | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reduction Roasting | 300-500°C | Natural Gas/Coal | As₂O₅ → As₂O₃ sublimation, 98% recovery |
| Traditional Roasting | 600-700°C | Coal/Coke | Arsenopyrite oxidation, As₂O₃ volatilization |
| High-Temp Roasting (old) | 1000-1100°C | Coke | Complete arsenic removal, high energy use |
| Condensation/Collection | 100-200°C | Cooling water | As₂O₃ collection in baghouses/scrubbers |
Modern Reduction Roasting Details
Pretreatment: H₂SO₄ addition enhances As removal Reduction: Natural gas or coal reduces As(V) to As(III) Volatilization: As₂O₃ sublimes at 300-400°C Collection: 99% purity As₂O₃ recovered Efficiency: 98% arsenic removal achieved
Environmental Control Energy
Scrubbers: Wet scrubbing systems for gas cleaning Baghouses: 99%+ dust collection efficiency Electrostatic Precipitators: For fine particle removal Waste Treatment: Stabilization of arsenic residues Monitoring: Continuous emission monitoring systems
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Trioxide | As₂O₃ | 197.84 g/mol | 99.0-99.9% | $4.00-5.00 | Glass decolorizer, wood preservatives, pharmaceuticals |
| Metallic Arsenic | As | 74.92 g/mol | 99-99.99% | $1.00-2.00 | Lead alloys, semiconductors |
| Arsenic Acid | H₃AsO₄·½H₂O | 150.95 g/mol | 75% solution | $1.50-2.50 | Wood preservatives, herbicides |
| Gallium Arsenide | GaAs | 144.64 g/mol | 99.999-99.9999% | $300-800 | Semiconductors, LEDs, solar cells |
| Sodium Arsenate | Na₃AsO₄·12H₂O | 424.07 g/mol | 98-99% | $2.00-3.00 | Herbicides, insecticides |
| Lead Arsenate | PbHAsO₄ | 347.12 g/mol | 95-98% | $1.50-2.50 | Insecticides (historical) |
| Calcium Arsenate | Ca₃(AsO₄)₂ | 398.07 g/mol | 95-98% | $1.20-2.00 | Insecticides, herbicides |
| MSMA | CH₃AsO(ONa)₂ | 161.95 g/mol | 70-80% solution | $3.00-5.00 | Herbicide (restricted use) |
| High Purity As (6N) | As | 74.92 g/mol | 99.9999% | $50-60 | Electronic applications |
| High Purity As (7N) | As | 74.92 g/mol | 99.99999% | $110-150 | Semiconductor research |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Chenzhou Chenxi Metals Co. Ltd | As₂O₃, metallic As, high purity As | World's largest As₂O₃ exporter, 99.9% purity |
| South China Resources Enterprises | As₂O₃, arsenic compounds | Major exporter, industrial grade |
| Xilan Chemicals Co. Ltd | As₂O₃, specialty arsenicals | Chemical intermediates |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| American Elements | High purity As, GaAs, arsenides | Advanced materials, 99.999%+ purity |
| ALB Materials Inc. | As₂O₃, metallic As, compounds | Research materials |
| ProChem Inc. | Arsenic compounds, solutions | Laboratory chemicals |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Rajendra Prasad & Sons | As₂O₃, industrial chemicals | Established 1965, industrial grade |
| Suvidhinath Laboratories | As₂O₃, lab chemicals | ISO certified, reagent grade |
| Central Drug House Ltd | Arsenic compounds, reagents | Pharmaceutical grade |
| Jigs Chemical | As₂O₃, specialty chemicals | Export focus |
🇮🇹 Italy / 🇪🇺 Europe
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Todini Chemicals | As₂O₃, metal arsenides | International distributor, custom specs |
| Merck KGaA | High purity As, compounds | Research grade, analytical standards |
| PPM Reinstmetalle (Germany) | Ultra-high purity As | 6N-7N purity for semiconductors |
🇲🇦 Morocco
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| CTT-ALT (Managem Group) | As₂O₃ from cobalt processing | Byproduct recovery, 99% purity |
🇨🇱 Chile / 🇵🇪 Peru
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Various Copper Smelters | As₂O₃ from flue dust | Byproduct of copper smelting |
Market demand by product form
| Application | % of Global Use | Key Products | Market Trends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Preservatives | 29% | CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) | Declining in developed countries, growing in developing |
| Agricultural Chemicals | 45% | Herbicides, insecticides, cotton desiccants | Phasing out in many regions |
| Glass & Ceramics | 10% | Decolorizing agent, specialty glass | Stable demand |
| Electronics/Semiconductors | 8% | GaAs, InAs for LEDs, solar cells, ICs | Growing rapidly, high value |
| Metallurgy | 5% | Lead alloys for batteries | Stable to declining |
| Pharmaceuticals | 2% | APL treatment (Trisenox®) | Niche but important |
| Other | 1% | Research, pigments, specialty uses | Varied |
Market trends
Environmental Regulations: Tightening globally, driving shift from traditional uses to high-tech applications GaAs Market Growth: Semiconductor applications growing at 10%+ CAGR, driven by 5G, IoT, and renewable energy China Dominance: Controls 60% of global exports, creating supply chain concerns Pharmaceutical Use: Arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®) established as first-line treatment for APL Agricultural Phase-Out: MSMA and other arsenical herbicides banned or restricted in many countries Circular Economy: Increased recovery from copper smelter dust and electronic waste Price Volatility: Environmental compliance costs and supply concentration affecting pricing Strategic Material: Listed as critical mineral in US due to semiconductor applications
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metallic Arsenic | As | 74.92 | 13.35 |
| Arsenic Trioxide | As₂O₃ | 197.84 | 5.06 |
| Arsenic Acid (anhydrous) | H₃AsO₄ | 141.94 | 7.05 |
| Gallium Arsenide | GaAs | 144.64 | 6.91 |
| Sodium Arsenate (hydrated) | Na₃AsO₄·12H₂O | 424.07 | 2.36 |
References
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