Originally published October 24 2005
British company creates high-purity calcium carbonate
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
UK company CalciTech has developed a process for refining high-purity calcium carbonate from limestone.
CalciTech says its synthetic calcium carbonate product, initially aimed at the paper industry, could also offer major advantages for the food industry, pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products.
Its process is similar to the one used by producers of precipitated calcium carbonate, starting with the same raw material - limestone.
When the calcium is separated out, it leaves behind more of the impurities than the calcium formed through suspension by current methods.
While the company has not tested the product, called CalciSPTM, in food, its directors believe that many food makers will be interested in its low heavy metal content.
"In our discussions with producers, it has become apparent that regulations have had a strong impact on demand for super pure products," noted Jean-Claude Masson, CalciTech's marketing manager for non-paper products.
An analysis at the Analytical Laboratory of the Geneva Institute of Technology found that CalciTech's calcium carbonate had significantly lower levels of mercury, lead and arsenic than a market-leading precipitated calcium carbonate and a ground calcium carbonate.
Lead levels were at 26 parts per billion in the new calcium, compared with 88 ppb in the GCC product and 40 ppb in the PCC product.
Lakmaaker told NutraIngredients.com that CalciSPTM also has good processing properties and could save industry money by protecting equipment.
"We can manipulate the crystal size and shape so that they are smooth and have little abrasiveness.
This means less wear and tear on machinery."
The technology can also modify particle distribution, an advantage for food and tablet formulators.
"One type is rice-shaped and very smooth, compared with the brittle, sharp edges of ground calcium carbonate.
It is also very uniform," said Lakmaaker.
CalciTech is not yet producing the product, supplying bulk samples from a small-scale production plant in Germany.
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