Uses of Zinc Sulphate

Zinc sulphate is a chemical compound that is used in many industries, including pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural and manufacturing.

Chemicals

Pharmaceutical

Zinc sulphate is used as a human ophthalmic astringent, a veterinary astringent, an emetic and an accelerating agent in dental impression material.

Manufacturing

Zinc sulphate is used as a component of spinning bath in rayon manufacture, a reagent for paper bleaching and in manufacture of glue, an agent in printing and textile dyeing, a depressant in froth flotation for lead-zinc ores, a component of zinc plating baths and a chemical intermediate for manufacture of the pigment lithopone, carbamate fungicides, zinc metal and other zinc compounds (such as zinc stearate).

Cosmetics

Zinc sulphate is used as a component of cosmetics (such as skin fresheners) and an ingredient in some deodorants.

Agriculture

A solution of zinc sulphate and hydrated lime, 3.63 kg of each to 440.5 L of water, is used as a spray to control bacterial spot disease of peaches. A 50 percent solution of zinc sulphate in water is applied to lactating dairy cows to prevent facial eczema. Zinc sulphate is also used as a micronutrient in animal feeds.

Antimicrobial

Zinc sulphate is used as a preservative for wood and hides, an antibacterial treatment for sewage, a miticide and an herbicide.

Chemistry

Zinc sulphate is used as an analytical chemistry reagent.

References

• Hazardous Substances Data Bank
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish