Thermal decomposition of magnesium acetate in nitrogen

Abstract In this paper, the thermal decomposition process of magnesium acetate, Mg (CH3COO)2·4H2O, in nitrogen atmosphere was studied by thermal analysis methods, and the solid products after thermal decomposition were analyzed by XRD, FE-SEM and EDS. The results show that the thermal decomposition process of magnesium acetate went through four steps: the first step was the dehydration of magnesium acetate to produce anhydrous magnesium acetate; the second step was the conversion of anhydrous magnesium acetate to magnesium oxalate; the third step was magnesium oxalate to magnesium carbonate, and the final step was magnesium carbonate to magnesium oxide.