Uses
Lanthanum chloride does not enjoy many applications. A possible application involves the precipitation phosphate from solutions, e.g. in swimming pools to prevent algae growth. It has also shown use as a filter aid and an effective flocculent. Lanthanum chloride is also used in biochemical research to block the activity of divalent cation channels, mainly calcium channels. Doped with cerium, it is used as a scintillator material.
In organic synthesis, lanthanum trichloride functions as a mild Lewis acid for converting aldehydes to acetals.
The compound has been identified as a catalyst for the high pressure oxidative chlorination of methane to chloromethane with hydrochloric acid and oxygen.
This compound is also used in Gamma Detectors, is one of the smallest sized (massed) meters of the inorganic compounds used for Gamma Ray Detectors.
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