Basic copper carbonate, also known as verdigris or malachite, CAS number 12069-69-1, is an inorganic compound, peacock green in color, insoluble in water, but soluble in acids and ammonia. Basic copper carbonate decomposes stably at 200℃, with decomposition products being copper oxide, water, and carbon dioxide. It has some hygroscopic properties, absorbing moisture from humid air and darkening in color.

I. Basic Information

English Name: Cupric carbonate basic; verdigris; copper rust

Chemical Formula: Cu2(OH)2CO3

Molecular Weight: 221.076

CAS: 12069-69-1

EINECS: 235-113-6

Melting Point: 200℃

Density: 3.85g/mL

Appearance: Peacock green, fine, amorphous powder

Safety Description: S26/36

II. Uses

1. Basic copper carbonate can be used as a fungicide and insecticide. It has a certain control effect on some common crop diseases such as downy mildew and anthracnose, and can also be used to control some pests. It can also be used as a micronutrient fertilizer, providing copper to plants and promoting plant growth and development.

2. It is widely used as a green pigment in the pigment industry. It can be used in paints, coatings, inks, and other products to provide a bright and long-lasting green hue. In the ceramics industry, basic copper carbonate can be used as a component of glazes, giving ceramic products a beautiful green appearance.

3. Basic copper carbonate is often used as a reagent to detect the presence of certain substances or to perform specific chemical reactions. It can react with acids to produce carbon dioxide gas, used in laboratory carbon dioxide preparation. Because basic copper carbonate can produce a green flame effect, it can also be used in electroplating, catalysts, and other fields.

III. Bactericidal Mechanism

The copper ions in basic copper carbonate can bind to components such as proteins and phospholipids on bacterial cell membranes, altering the permeability of the cell membrane. This impairs the barrier function of the cell membrane, leading to the leakage of intracellular substances such as electrolytes, amino acids, and nucleic acids, thereby disrupting normal cell metabolism and function. It can also insert into the cell membrane, interfering with the lipid bilayer structure, making the cell membrane unstable and prone to rupture. For some bacteria with cell walls, copper ions can bind to components such as polysaccharides and proteins in the cell wall, disrupting the structural integrity of the cell wall. This reduces the strength of the cell wall, making it easily damaged by external pressure or other factors, leading to cell rupture and death. The copper ions in basic copper carbonate can bind to various enzymes within bacteria, inhibiting their activity. These enzymes include respiratory enzymes, metabolic enzymes, and synthetic enzymes, all of which play crucial roles in bacterial life processes. Inhibiting bacterial respiratory enzymes prevents normal respiration, thus affecting energy production and metabolism. It can also bind to nucleic acids within bacteria, interfering with nucleic acid synthesis and replication. Nucleic acids are the carriers of bacterial genetic information and are essential for bacterial growth and reproduction. The binding of copper ions from basic copper carbonate can cause structural deformation of nucleic acids, affecting transcription and translation, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth and reproduction. Basic copper carbonate can participate in redox reactions, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) (such as superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals). These ROS have strong oxidizing capabilities and can damage various biomolecules within bacterial cells, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. The production of ROS leads to oxidative stress within bacterial cells, disrupting normal cellular metabolism and function, ultimately resulting in cell death. Basic copper carbonate can consume these antioxidants, reducing the antioxidant capacity of bacterial cells and making them more susceptible to ROS attack.

IV. Specifications

Cu%≥55.0%

As%≤0.005%

Gr%≤0.003%

Cd%≤0.0006%

Pb%≤0.003%

Fe%≤0.002%

Na%≤0.25%

Ca%≤0.03%

Cl%≤0.05%

Hydrochloricacidinsolublematter%≤0.1%

SO4%≤0.05%

V. Packaging

25 kg/bag, with an inner polyethylene bag.

Basic copper carbonate plays its role in various applications primarily through its unique chemical properties, such as thermal decomposition, reaction with acids, and interaction with other chemical substances. It is used as a fungicide, insecticide, and seed treatment agent to help control plant diseases and promote growth. Basic copper carbonate also plays an important role in electroplating and corrosion protection, especially in metal surface treatment, where it effectively prevents metal corrosion and extends the service life of metal materials.