Barium sulphate: definition, side effects used in medicine, applications

What is barium sulphate?

Barium sulphate is an odourless, tasteless, white or pale yellow crystal or powder or polycrystalline crystals. It is stable, insoluble in water or slightly soluble in water, and may produce sulphur oxides when burned. It reacts violently with aluminium powder. It occurs naturally in the form of the mineral barite, barite. It has a wide range of uses as an inert filler and pigment filler in paints, primers, inks, plastics, floor tiles, paper coatings, polymer fibres and rubber. It is used as an organic pigment in oil well drilling and as a translucent matrix (colour deposit) in thixotropic agglomerated mud. Barium sulphate is a contrast agent used to aid X-ray diagnosis of problems in the upper gastrointestinal region, such as the oesophagus, stomach and/or small intestine. Unprocessed barium sulphate has a wide range of uses.

What are the side effects of its use in medicine?

Seek emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.

Call your doctor immediately if you have.

Severe stomach pain ;

Severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea or constipation.

chest pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Ringing in your ears.

sweating, confusion, rapid heart rate; or

pale skin, blue skin, weakness.

Common side effects may include.

mild stomach cramps.

nausea, vomiting; or

loose stools or mild constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other side effects may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice on side effects.

What are the main applications for barium sulphate?

Barium sulphate is used in a wide range of applications. It is mainly used as a filler in the oil well drilling fluid, paint and varnish industries. It is one of the main components of the pigment lithium thione and white pigments for paints. When used as a filler, it increases the resistance of plastics to acids and acids. In addition, it is used as a component in flash pyrotechnic compositions and as a coating on photographic paper to enhance images. Barium is a thin layer of barium sulphate which is used to brighten inkjet printing paper. In the chemical and pharmaceutical industries it is used as a catalyst carrier when selective hydrogenation is required, for example in Rosemund reduction (palladium on barium sulphate). In colourimetric methods, barium sulphate is used as a diffuser to measure the light source. In the medical field, barium sulphate suspensions are used clinically as radiographic contrast agents for X-ray imaging and other diagnostic procedures. In biomaterials research, it is one of the components used in the preparation of acrylic bone cements.

Barium sulphate is used as an emulsion stabiliser in sunscreen formulations. Apart from sunscreens, this inorganic salt is most commonly used in non-cosmetic soaps.