Manganese Powder Supplier

Atlantic Equipment: Your Ideal Manganese Powder Supplier

Chunks of dark manganese ore on a white background.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where manganese is found?

Manganese is often found in minerals in combination with iron. It is the 12th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and the 5th most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. The largest producer of manganese is South Africa, followed by Gabon, China, Australia, and India. Manganese nodules have also been found on the floors of the oceans. The nodules contain about 24% manganese with many other elements. Manganese is also found throughout the human body and is essential for all human and animal life.

Q: Does manganese rust?

Rust is the term used to describe the red iron oxides produced when iron interacts with air and water. So while manganese cannot truly “rust” due to the lack of iron, when exposed to water containing dissolved oxygen, manganese will oxidize similarly to iron and therefore resemble rust.

Q: Can too much manganese be harmful to someone?

The human body contains approximately 10–20mg of manganese, which is essential for metabolic function, in addition to forming connective tissues, bones, blood-clotting factors, and sex hormones. However, manganese cannot be stored in the human body, so it must be replenished through diet.

This said, too much manganese can be toxic. Symptoms include hallucinations, forgetfulness, nerve damage, and weakened muscles. Too much manganese can cause Parkinson’s disease, lung embolisms, bronchitis, and schizophrenia.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, too little manganese can cause obesity, glucose intolerance, skin conditions, skeletal disorders, and neurological symptoms.

Q: What do you use manganese for?

Most of the manganese mined today—around 85 to 90 percent—is used in the production of steel. Manganese removes oxygen and sulfur when iron ore (an iron oxygen compound) is converted into iron. It is also an essential part of the final steel alloy. Its properties decrease the brittleness of steel and add strength. It is also commonly alloyed with aluminum and copper.

Other non-metallurgical uses include battery cathodes, water treatment chemicals, and micronutrients in fertilizers and animal feed.

Q: Why is manganese dioxide a catalyst?

Manganese dioxide is the oxidized state of the transition metal manganese. Transition metals are excellent catalysts because of their ability to lend and take electrons from other molecules easily.

A catalyst is a chemical substance that can be added to a chemical reaction without impacting the thermodynamic aspect but significantly increasing the reaction rate.

Manganese dioxide has been found to possess unique structural characteristics that allow it to be modified to react with a wide range of organic substances that are otherwise difficult to degrade and pose a hazard to the environment. Therefore it plays an essential role in the field of environmental protection.

Need help? Have Questions? Contact us today!

Learn More