GB827522A - New organic cobalt compounds and solutions and mixtures containing the same, and processes for the preparation of such compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

A water-soluble alkali metal (or ammonium) cobalt citrate complex compound is obtained by de-ionizing or de-activating cobalt (Co) from cobaltic chloride or cobaltous chloride or other known cobalt salt or compound by causing the said salt or compound to react with citric acid in the presence of water and of sodium hydroxide or other alkali metal hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide so as to form in solution an alkali metal (or ammonium) cobalt citrate complex compound. The complex formed from cobaltic chloride or other cobaltic salt or compound has the probable structure <FORM:0827522/IV (b)/1> where R is the cation of the alkali employed and the complex obtained from cobaltous chloride or other cobaltous salt or compound has the probable structure <FORM:0827522/IV (b)/2> where R is as defined above. Each type of complex may be recovered by crystallizing out from the solution or by evaporating the solution to dryness. When cobaltic chloride is used 9 gram molecules of alkali and 3 gram molecules of citric acid are required for each gram atom of cobalt and in this case 3 gram molecules of alkali chloride are also obtained but this salt need not be removed from the complex. When cobaltous chloride is used 6 gram molecules of alkali and 3 gram molecules of citric acid are required per gram atom of cobalt and in this case 2 gram molecules of alkali chloride are also formed. Other cobalt compounds which may be used are the sulphates, nitrates, carbonates, oxides and (to a lesser extent) the phosphates of cobalt. Examples are given for the preparation of complexes from (1) cobaltic chloride, citric acid and sodium hydroxide; and (2) from cobaltous chloride, citric acid and sodium hydroxide. The reaction product which is recovered in each case by evaporating the reaction solution to dryness contains some sodium chloride. The complexes may be used in compositions suitable for use as a source of cobalt for correcting cobalt deficiencies in animals, plants, or other living organisms (see Groups I and VI).ALSO:A composition suitable for application to the soil comprises a mixture of one or more water-soluble alkali metal (or ammonium) cobalt citrate complexes admixed with a suitable solvent or medium, e.g. irrigation water, soil and a fertilizer, e.g. superphosphate, the said complex being obtained by reacting cobaltic or cobaltous chloride or other known cobalt salt of compound with citric acid in the presence of water and of an alkali metal hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide (see Group IV(b)). The composition may additionally contain the alkali metal (or ammonium)-copper citrate complex and/or-copper tartrate complex disclosed in Specifications 827,521 and 827,523 respectively.ALSO:A composition serving as a source of cobalt for correcting cobalt deficiencies in animals (including humans) or other living organisms comprises a solution or mixture of one or more water-soluble alkali metal (or ammonium) cobalt citrate complexes, said solutions and mixtures being obtained by adding a predetermined quantity of the complex or complexes to a medium or solvent which will serve as a vehicle for the complex or complexes without interfering with the assimilation or utilization of the cobalt by the organism, the said complex being obtained by reacting cobaltic or cobaltous chloride or other known cobalt salt or compound with citric acid in the presence of water and of an alkali metal hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide (see Group IV (b)). The medium used for the composition may be one from which the living organism draws, or is intended to draw, sustenance or nutrition, e.g. drinking water in the case of animals. The drinking water for animals may suitably contain from 0.25 to 25 grams, e.g. about 1.5 grams, of the complex per 1000 litres of water. The composition may additionally contain the alkali metal (or ammonium) copper citrate complex and/or copper tartrate complex disclosed in in Specifications 827,521 and 827,523 respectively.