Production process

CASO^® SOLVAY calcium chloride is produced with a single production line, divided in six sectors working in series and in parallel.

In this facility, brine containing calcium chloride at low concentration,   coming from the nearby Sodium Carbonate (SODA^® SOLVAY) plant, is concentrated from 11% till 78% in weight.

The qualities of CASO^® Solvay produced in Rosignano  are as follows:

• Liquid CASO^® 25÷29% and 35÷37%  TEC,
  (technical grade ),

• Liquid CASO^® 35÷37% FCC Solution (food grade ),

• Solid CASO^® 77-80% in flakes (food and technical grade), and

• Solid CASO^® >80% in powder (technical grade).

During the production process, the calcium chloride solution is depurated and cleared from the main impurities (insoluble substances, hydrated lime, calcium sulfate, sodium chloride), so as to avoid any possible alteration of  the final product.

Once all the impurities have been eliminated, the calcium chloride solution circulates in evaporators and tanks where, with the addition of vapors at different pressure and temperature, it undergoes a process of evaporation and concentration to reach a content of 73% in weight.

At this step, the product is still liquid.

During the following step, a plunging wheel is immerged into the calcium chloride 73% solution: as a consequence of the internal cooling a solid layer will cover the surface of the wheel and finally the liquid product becomes solid.

At this step, the solid product turns into flakes (73%) which after desiccation in a dryer, by adding warm gasses, will reach a concentration of 78%.

The desiccated calcium chloride, before being stocked in silos, packed and finally being sold, is refrigerated by an air scrubber at first, then cleaned from dust and finally conditioned, in compliance with the sales specification.

The product has now the shape of  'white flakes', measuring between 3x3 and 10x10 mm as dimension and  with an average thickness of  0,5 - 1,5 mm.

After the cleaning and dehumidification treatment, based on the introduction of hot air at the entrance of the silos, the calcium chloride flakes are totally free from any dust particles.

Then they are collected and become a 'Final Product' which will be stocked, packed and sold as solid CASO^®.

During the intermediate step of the production cycle, a part of the liquid calcium chloride at 50% in weight is diluted with de-mineralized water, thus obtaining the CASO^® 25÷29% and 35÷37% solutions, which, after proper decantation and filtration, are stored in tanks and finally sold.