Ferric Hydroxide; an Iron Supplement Used To Treat & Prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia

Ferric hydroxide, also known as Iron (III) oxide-hydroxide, is a chemical compound of iron, hydrogen, and oxygen with formula FeO. Ferric hydroxide is an iron supplement widely used in the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia. It is mainly used to remove typical impurities from the water, such as cadmium, selenium, fluoride, and arsenic, found in domestic wells. Moreover, there is an increasing demand for ferric hydroxide in pharmaceutical industry to manufacture drugs intended for hematinic patients.

Ferric hydroxide is also used to manufacture intramuscular medication for patients suffering from iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the United States. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common causes of anaemia include nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency, which is the top nutritional disorder in the world. Around 10 million people are iron deficient in the United States, including 5 million who have iron deficiency anemia.

Thus, with the increasing demand for intramuscular medicine across the globe, especially in the U.S., the demand for ferric hydroxide is also expected to increase, worldwide. Furthermore, the demand for ferric hydroxide has increased due to the increasing demand for clean water along with the increasing global population. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wastewater treatment facilities in the United States process approximately 34 billion gallons of wastewater every day.

Water treatment companies prefer ferric hydroxide for its high efficiency in treating water. Moreover, according to the 2018 United Nations World Water Development report, around 6 billion people will suffer from clean water scarcity by 2050. This is attributed to the increasing demand for clean water and reduction of water resources, driven by dramatic population and economic growth. The above factors are expected to increase the demand for ferric hydroxide.