Ammonium perrhenate
Properties
Chemical formula: NH₄ReO₄
Name: Ammonium perrhenate
CAS No.: 13598-65-7
Molar mass: 268.24 g/mol
Density: 3.55 g/cm³
Color: white or colorless
Form: fine crystalline powder or needle-shaped crystals
Crystal structure: tetragonal, scheelite type
Solubility: moderately soluble in cold water, significantly more soluble at elevated temperatures and in dilute acids
Thermal decomposition: from approx. 300-400 °C
Ammonium perrhenate (NH₄ReO₄) is the ammonium salt of perrhenic acid and one of the most important commercial starting materials for the production of high-purity rhenium and rhenium-containing compounds. It is commonly supplied as a fine white crystalline powder or as colorless needle-shaped crystals.
The compound crystallizes in a tetragonal scheelite-type structure. Its solubility in water is approximately 62 g/l at 20 °C and increases considerably with temperature. Ammonium perrhenate is also soluble in dilute acids.
When heated to approximately 300-400 °C, the salt begins to decompose and forms rhenium compounds while releasing volatile decomposition products. Of particular technological importance is its ability to be reduced under hydrogen at temperatures above 500 °C to produce high-purity rhenium metal powder.
Industrial production is mainly associated with the processing of roasting gases from molybdenum and copper ores. Volatile rhenium(VII) oxide, Re₂O₇, is captured in scrubber solutions, which are then treated with ammonia or ammonium chloride. High-purity ammonium perrhenate is subsequently isolated by selective crystallization or ion-exchange processes.
Ammonium perrhenate is an important precursor for rhenium powder, pellets, sputtering targets and rhenium-containing materials. It is also used in the preparation of platinum-rhenium catalysts, chemical synthesis and functional coating technologies.
Rhenium and its compounds are particularly important in high-temperature alloys, catalyst technology and advanced electronic applications. Auremo can provide information about ammonium perrhenate supply conditions. The rhenium price, rhenium metal price and rhenium price per kg primarily refer to metallic rhenium, while the ammonium perrhenate price depends on purity, quantity and material specifications.
Advantages
• Important precursor for high-purity rhenium production
• Can be reduced to metallic rhenium under hydrogen
• High chemical purity
• Low levels of unwanted impurities for demanding processes
• Controlled thermal conversion into rhenium compounds
• Good solubility at elevated temperatures
• Convenient crystalline form for storage and further processing
Applications
• Production of rhenium metal powder
• Rhenium pellets and sputtering targets
• Rhenium-containing high-temperature alloys
• Nickel-based superalloys for turbine components
• Platinum-rhenium catalysts
• Catalytic reforming in petrochemistry
• Selective oxidation reactions
• Olefin metathesis
• Dehydrogenation reactions
• CVD and PVD processes
• Thin rhenium films
• Specialty cathode coatings
Auremo offers ammonium perrhenate and other rhenium-based materials for industrial, research and advanced technical applications. If you have questions about purity, available quantities or delivery conditions, please contact us directly.
