Synthesis of Magnesium Hydroxide and Oxide Nanoparticles Using a Spinning Disk Reactor

The aim of this research was to synthesize magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles, which were further calcined to form magnesium oxide, using a spinning disk reactor. Magnesium hydroxide was prepared by continuously pumping two aqueous solutions of MgCl2 and NaOH, respectively, into the chamber of the reactor, where a liquid−liquid reaction took place to form Mg(OH)2. The effects of various operating variables, including the rotation speed, reactant concentration, and liquid flow rate of the reactants, on the size of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles were investigated. The particle size of magnesium hydroxide increased as the flow rate increased, but remained quite constant as the reactant concentration varied. As far as size and uniformity were concerned, the best lamellar magnesium hydroxide particles were 50−80 nm in length and 10 nm in thickness. The particle morphology and size of magnesium oxide calcined from produced magnesium hydroxide were also analyzed. Polyhedral nanoparticles of 30−70 nm magnesium oxide were obtained by calcinating lamellar hydroxide.