Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Range | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Refinery Byproduct | 0.01-0.5% Bi content | $0.50-2.00/kg Bi contained | China, Mexico, Peru | Most common source (60-70% of production) |
| Copper Refinery Slimes | 0.1-2% Bi content | $1.00-3.00/kg Bi contained | China, Japan, Chile | Higher grade source (20% of production) |
| Tungsten/Tin Concentrates | 0.05-0.5% Bi content | $0.80-2.50/kg Bi contained | China, Vietnam | Regional importance in Asia |
| Primary Bismuth Ore | 2-8% Bi (rare) | $5.00-8.00/kg Bi contained | Bolivia, China | Only 5-10% from primary ores |
Primary Sources - Byproduct Metal
Current Market Price: $8.50-11.00/kg (99.99% pure metal) Key Production Method: Bismuth is primarily a byproduct of lead, copper, tin, and tungsten refining Major Global Reserves: China: 240,000 MT (70% of world reserves) Vietnam: 35,000 MT Mexico: 20,000 MT Bolivia: 10,000 MT Canada: 5,000 MT 2025 Production Leaders: China: 16,000 MT (78% of global production) Vietnam: 2,000 MT Mexico: 800 MT Japan: 500 MT (from imported concentrates) Peru: 400 MT Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Range Major Sources Notes Lead Refinery Byproduct 0.01-0.5% Bi content $0.50-2.00/kg Bi contained China, Mexico, Peru Most common source (60-70% of production) Copper Refinery Slimes 0.1-2% Bi content $1.00-3.00/kg Bi contained China, Japan, Chile Higher grade source (20% of production) Tungsten/Tin Concentr
⚠️ Seawater Bismuth Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.00002 ppm (20 ppt - parts per trillion) Chemical Form: BiO⁺ and Bi(OH)₂⁺ complexes Status: No commercial seawater bismuth extraction exists. The concentration is 100,000 times lower than aluminum and would require processing billions of liters for grams of bismuth. Note: Bismuth's extreme scarcity in seawater makes it one of the least abundant dissolved metals in the ocean.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg Bismuth | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Material (Concentrates) | $1.50-3.00 | 20-30% | Mostly byproduct credits |
| Processing & Refining | $2.00-3.50 | 25-35% | Pyrometallurgical/hydrometallurgical |
| Energy | $0.80-1.50 | 10-15% | Lower temp processing than Al |
| Labor | $0.50-1.00 | 6-10% | Specialized workforce required |
| Environmental & Waste | $1.00-2.00 | 12-20% | Lead/arsenic contamination control |
| Other Overhead | $0.70-1.00 | 8-10% | Equipment, maintenance |
| Total Production Cost | $6.50-12.00 | 100% | Selling price: $8.50-11.00/kg |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Separation | 3-5 MJ/kg | 20-25% | Thermal/Electrical | Roasting at 600-800°C, flotation |
| Leaching/Dissolution | 4-6 MJ/kg | 25-30% | Chemical/Thermal | HCl or H₂SO₄ leaching |
| Electrowinning/Reduction | 5-8 MJ/kg | 30-35% | Electrical | Electrolysis or chemical reduction |
| Purification/Refining | 3-6 MJ/kg | 20-25% | Thermal | Zone refining, vacuum distillation |
Pyrometallurgical Route (60%)
Drossing: Lead bullion at 400-500°C Kroll-Betterton Process: Ca/Mg addition at 480°C Electrolytic Refining: Bi anodes in fluorosilicate bath Final Purification: Vacuum distillation at 800°C
Hydrometallurgical Route (40%)
Chloride Leaching: HCl dissolution at 80-90°C Solvent Extraction: Organic phase separation Precipitation: As BiOCl or Bi₂S₃ Reduction: H₂ or carbon at 300-400°C
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismuth Metal Ingot | Bi | 208.98 g/mol | 99.99-99.999% | $8.50-11.00 | Alloys, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics |
| Bismuth Shot/Pellets | Bi | 208.98 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $9.00-12.00 | Ammunition, fishing weights |
| Bismuth Powder | Bi | 208.98 g/mol | 99.5-99.9% | $15.00-25.00 | Metallurgy, lubricants, catalysts |
| Bismuth Oxide | Bi₂O₃ | 465.96 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $12.00-18.00 | Glass, ceramics, varistors |
| Bismuth Subcarbonate | (BiO)₂CO₃ | 509.97 g/mol | 98-99% | $18.00-25.00 | Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics |
| Bismuth Subsalicylate | C₇H₅BiO₄ | 362.09 g/mol | 99%+ | $35.00-50.00 | Pharmaceuticals (Pepto-Bismol) |
| Bismuth Subnitrate | Bi₅O(OH)₉(NO₃)₄ | 1461.99 g/mol | 98-99% | $20.00-30.00 | Pharmaceuticals, pigments |
| Bismuth Oxychloride | BiOCl | 260.43 g/mol | 98-99% | $25.00-35.00 | Cosmetics (pearl pigment) |
| Bismuth Vanadate | BiVO₄ | 323.92 g/mol | 99%+ | $40.00-60.00 | Yellow pigment, photocatalyst |
| Bismuth Telluride | Bi₂Te₃ | 800.76 g/mol | 99.99% | $200.00-350.00 | Thermoelectric devices |
| Bismuth Citrate | BiC₆H₅O₇ | 398.08 g/mol | 98-99% | $30.00-45.00 | Pharmaceuticals |
| Bismuth Trichloride | BiCl₃ | 315.34 g/mol | 98-99% | $35.00-50.00 | Catalyst, chemical synthesis |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity (MT/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Hunan Shizhuyuan Nonferrous Metals | Metal ingots, oxide, powder, compounds | 3,000 |
| Hunan Jinwang Bismuth Industry | High-purity bismuth, compounds, alloys | 2,500 |
| Jiangxi Copper Corporation | Bismuth metal (byproduct), compounds | 1,500 |
| Yunnan Tin Company | Bismuth metal, oxide | 1,000 |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity (MT/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsui Mining & Smelting | High-purity bismuth, compounds | 300 |
| Asahi Pretec Corporation | Bismuth metal, recycled bismuth | 200 |
🇲🇽 Mexico
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity (MT/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Met-Mex Peñoles | Bismuth metal, oxide | 800 |
| Grupo México | Bismuth (byproduct) | 200 |
🇵🇪 Peru
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity (MT/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Minsur S.A. | Bismuth metal (byproduct from tin) | 300 |
| Volcan Compañía Minera | Bismuth concentrates | 100 |
🇻🇳 Vietnam
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity (MT/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Vinacomin | Bismuth metal, concentrates | 1,500 |
| Masan Resources | Bismuth (byproduct from tungsten) | 500 |
🇨🇦 Canada
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity (MT/year) |
|---|---|---|
| 5N Plus Inc. | Ultra-high purity bismuth, compounds, alloys | 200 |
| Glencore (Kidd Creek) | Bismuth (byproduct) | 100 |
Market demand by product form
| Application | Global Consumption (MT) | % of Total | Growth Rate (CAGR) | Key Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals | 6,600 | 30% | 5.5% | Gastrointestinal drugs, cosmetics |
| Low-Melting Alloys | 5,500 | 25% | 4.0% | Fusible alloys, solders, safety devices |
| Metallurgical Additives | 4,400 | 20% | 3.5% | Free-machining steel, aluminum alloys |
| Electronics & Semiconductors | 2,200 | 10% | 7.5% | Thermoelectric devices, varistors |
| Pigments & Cosmetics | 1,760 | 8% | 6.0% | Pearl pigments, makeup products |
| Catalysts | 880 | 4% | 5.0% | Acrylic fiber production, oxidation |
| Other (Ammunition, etc.) | 660 | 3% | 2.5% | Lead-free shot, nuclear applications |
Market trends
Pharmaceutical Growth: Increasing demand for bismuth-based drugs, especially in emerging markets for H. pylori treatment Lead Replacement: Growing use in lead-free ammunition, fishing weights, and radiation shielding Electronics Expansion: Rising demand for bismuth telluride in thermoelectric cooling and power generation Supply Concentration: China controls 78% of production, creating supply chain vulnerabilities Recycling Challenges: Limited recycling infrastructure; most bismuth is dissipatively used Price Stability: Relatively stable prices due to byproduct economics and Chinese market control Green Applications: Research into bismuth-based photocatalysts for water purification and solar cells Cosmetics Boom: 6% CAGR in bismuth oxychloride demand for "natural" makeup products
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismuth Metal | Bi | 208.98 | 4.78 |
| Bismuth Oxide | Bi₂O₃ | 465.96 | 2.15 |
| Bismuth Subcarbonate | (BiO)₂CO₃ | 509.97 | 1.96 |
| Bismuth Subsalicylate | C₇H₅BiO₄ | 362.09 | 2.76 |
| Bismuth Subnitrate | Bi₅O(OH)₉(NO₃)₄ | 1461.99 | 0.68 |
| Bismuth Oxychloride | BiOCl | 260.43 | 3.84 |
| Bismuth Vanadate | BiVO₄ | 323.92 | 3.09 |
| Bismuth Telluride | Bi₂Te₃ | 800.76 | 1.25 |
| Bismuth Citrate | BiC₆H₅O₇ | 398.08 | 2.51 |
| Bismuth Trichloride | BiCl₃ | 315.34 | 3.17 |
References
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