History - Calix Technology

In 2005, Calix acquired the Intellectual Property (IP) to manufacture Flash Calciners and the downstream materials processed from this technology. The inventor of the calciner known as the 'Horley Calciner' continues to consult to Calix.

The materials are three related products; all derived from the sea in the distant past. In order of abundance they are:

• calcium Carbonate (limestone),
• dolomite being a mixture of magnesium and calcium carbonates and
• magnesium carbonate – which is fairly rare.

After calcination this family of oxides are known as 'metal oxides'.

So what is different and special about the Horley Calciner and the metal oxides it produces?

The inventor Connor Horley, found that if the fine limestone particles (as against rocks) were dropped down a tall vertical tube, full of superheated steam, while being heated to the 1000°C, not only did they convert to lime in the 3 second dropping time but each particle had a unique physical structure due to the steam exploding the particles as they calcined. The normal shape of a lime particle under a microscope is like an irregularly-shaped marble but the shape emerging from the Flash Calciner is that of a sponge and one cubic centimetre has a surface area in excess of 100 square metres.

The characteristic of any metal oxide is they have the ability to bind with most materials fairly easily. Thus a mixture of cement and sand and/or gravel, when mixed with water produces concrete. A similar mixture made with the 'active' (sponge) lime binds so well that the Calix product sets to the same strength as normal concrete in 20 minutes and continues to strengthen in a day or so - to about 3 times the strength of standard concrete.

In addition, if made with Semidolime^TM (partially Calcined Dolomite) the product emits half the CO₂ to the atmosphere and is less costly to process.

CO₂ is produced in a reversible reaction so if the active lime is in the presence of CO₂, say from flue gases, then it can be absorbed easily. When converted back to limestone it can then be recycled through the Calciner and the exhaust CO₂ collected, compressed and disposed of safely through any sequestration process. This is the classic 'Carbon Capture Process' and Calix is leading this technology against its world competitors.

Calix Limited is a technology commercialisation company which exploits four product families which cover catalytic flash calciners, carbon capture systems and products based on activated oxides.