Ferric oxide (magnetic iron oxide) has a wide range of applications, with the biomedical field as its emerging demand end.

Ferric oxide, also known as magnetic iron oxide, has a chemical formula of Fe3O4 and is an inorganic compound. Ferric oxide appears as solid black crystals with a trans-spinel structure. It is soluble in acid solution but insoluble in ether, ethanol, alkali solution and water. Ferric oxide has the advantages of good thermal stability, high conductivity, strong submagnetic properties, and good corrosion resistance. It is widely used in medical, automobile manufacturing, chemical industry, metal smelting, coatings and other fields.

The preparation methods of iron ferric oxide include alkali addition method, hydrogen reduction method, addition method and Harber method. The alkali addition method refers to using ferrous sulfate as the main raw material, adding ferrous salts, iron salts or alkali oxidation solutions, and obtaining finished products through mixing, precipitation and other processes; the addition method refers to adding ferrous sulfate, iron oxide and alkali oxidation solution under high temperature conditions. The caustic soda phase is mixed and the finished product is obtained through an addition reaction; the hydrogen reduction method refers to using α-iron oxide as the raw material, adding high-purity nitrogen, and obtaining the finished product through a displacement reaction and a heating reaction. This method is the mainstream preparation method of ferric oxide.

According to the “2023-2028 China ferric oxide (magnetic iron oxide) industry market in-depth research and development prospect forecast report》shows that ferric oxide is widely used in medical, automobile manufacturing, chemical industry, metal smelting, coatings and other fields. In the medical field, ferroferric oxide is a commonly used magnetic material and can be used in magnetic resonance imaging, tumor treatment, etc.; in the automotive manufacturing field, ferroferric oxide can be used to make automobile brake pads; in the chemical industry, it can be used as a catalyst. It is widely used in desulfurization reaction, hydrogenation reaction, denitrification reaction and oxidation reaction; in the field of metal smelting, ferric oxide can be used for ironmaking.

In recent years, as my country’s medical level continues to improve, the demand for ferric oxide in the biomedical field continues to grow. As a biomedical material, ferroferric oxide nanoparticles have the advantages of good biocompatibility, no toxic side effects, and high strength. They can be used to study targeted drug carriers, contrast agents, retinal detachment repair surgery, and tumor hyperthermia therapy technology. In the future, with the support of national policies and the accelerated development of downstream industries, my country’s iron oxide market space will further expand.

The main manufacturers of Fe3O4 in my country include Bovas Nanotechnology (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Nano Chemical Technology Co., Ltd., Hunan Fengen New Material Technology Co., Ltd., etc. At present, Chinese enterprises mainly produce industrial-grade ferric oxide, while the medical-grade ferric oxide industry is still in the laboratory research and development stage.

Industry analysts said that ferric oxide has a wide range of uses and the industry has good development prospects. In the future, with in-depth research and technological advancement, ferric oxide will be widely used in the biomedical field. In terms of market competition, my country’s ferric oxide market participants are mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, and the industry concentration is low. In the future, companies with medical-grade ferric oxide production capabilities will occupy a larger space in the Chinese market.