Production

SOCAL® is produced using the most economic process existing today. Limestone is converted into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide by means of calcination at temperatures in excess of 900°C. To ensure a high level of purity, the calcination process is carried out using natural gas. After the calcinated lime has been slaked with water, the resulting milk of lime is purified and carbonized with the carbon dioxide obtained from the calcination process:

Following total carbonization, a suspension of CaCO₃ results. A cake comprising 40% - 60% solid matter (depending on particle diameter) is then obtained by filtration. This filter cake is then dried and subsequently disagglomerated in grinders.

Ultrafine SOCAL® and WINNOFIL® grades are reacted with fatty acids prior to filtration i.e. when still in the suspension stage.

The fineness of the grain, as well as the crystal form (aragonite, calcite), is controlled by temperature, concentration of reactants and time.

Depending on the chemical composition of the milk of lime used and on the purifying stages during production, both technical as well as foodstuff and pharmaceutical grades can be produced.