Introduction

Semidolime is our brand for highly activated oxides. This is a new material, exclusively produced by Catalytic Flash Calcination of dolomite at medium temperatures. The chemical composition of the surface makes the material a versatile binder.

It is the new products enabled by Flash Calcination that provides the early focus to Calix, in particular, the proprietary material produced from catalytic flash calcination of the dolomite minerals, Semidolime which provides the greatest opportunity. The diversity of applications available to Semidolime mirrors those of lime itself and in many of these markets, Semidolime will outperform lime on a cost/benefit basis.

The benefits, including environmental benefits of Semidolime products accrue from one or more of the following generic physical, chemical and biochemical properties of Semidolime.

Semidolime is:

• Manufactured from a common mineral, magnesitic dolomite, in the proprietary zero-emissions Catalytic Flash Calciner.
• Non-toxic in water however, it is an irritant to exposed soft tissues, but to a lesser extent than lime.
• Anti-microbial - its slow release alkalinity is such that it acts as an irritant to microbes. When manufactured as a nano powder, it is potentially a broad spectrum anti-viral material.
• Hydrates and sets to form an insoluble cementitious inorganic polymer matrix that resists weather.
• A low thermal conductivity material that transforms to a refractory material upon heating.
• A catalyst and a sorbent

These beneficial properties are a feature of a very high surface area on the Catalytic Flash Calcined material. Conventional manufacturing processes give an unreactive material with few desirable properties.

Environmental Products

Calix has developed a suite of environmentally friendly products from Semidolime

• A controlled release magnesium broad acre fertilizer that does not burn vegetation when spread;
• Quick setting cements
• Building panels that utilise a wide range of waste materials as fillers
• Capturing of CO₂ from flue gases

A unique feature of these products is that their manufacturing cost is comparable to, or lower than competitive products on the market that have large carbon footprints and other environmentally negative properties.

As an example, a preliminary data sheet on Semidolime demonstrates the environmental benefits that can be obtained from this product.