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Calcium chloride is produced in commercial quantity by several processes: (1) refining of natural brines, (2) the reaction of calcium hydroxide with ammonium chloride in Solvay (synthetic) soda ash production, and (3) the reaction of hydrochloric acid with calcium carbonate.

The refining of natural brines and calcium chloride recovered from synthetic soda ash production together account for over 90% of calcium chloride production.

In the ammonia-soda (Solvay) process, ammonia serves as a catalyst for the reaction of natural sodium chloride with natural calcium carbonate.

Although this process is actually quite complicated, it can be summarized as follows:

The calcium chloride solution produced by the purification of natural brines and by the Solvay process are relatively dilute.

The solution is depurated and concentrated by evaporation to 30-45% calcium chloride and, one part, is marketed as such.

An additional part is concentrated to approx 75% solids, corresponding to calcium chloride dihydrate, CaCl₂.2H₂O.

This material is flaked and dried to the commercial calcium chloride dihydrate (75-82% CaCl₂) and anhydrous (94-97% CaCl₂ ) products, and marketed with the brandname CASO^®.

Calcium chloride is not generally considered harmful to the environment, however, as with any chemical, calcium chloride spills should be promptly contained and disposed of in accordance with local ordinances.

Commercial calcium chloride from the three main processes contains low levels of heavy metals and organic compounds and is relatively innocuous; total alkali chlorides are generally the impurities of concern to calcium chloride producers. These impurities are essentially sodium chloride with smaller amounts of potassium chloride.

Calcium chloride meets the specifications of the Food Chemical Codex (FCC) and must be used in food at levels not to exceed current good manufacturing practices.

In the context of the European Directive 95/2/EC and its successive amendments relating to food additives permitted for use in foodstuffs and the European Directive 96/77/EC as amended defining specific purity criteria for these food additives, calcium chloride is characterized by the European Number E509.

SOLVAY, for the production of CASO^® Calcium chloride, has implemented and maintains:

• Quality Management System ISO 9001:2000, Certified Nb 701
• Environmental Management System ISO 14001:2004, Certified Nb 3652