Orbite Aluminae, the company that employs clean technology for production of high purity alumina, has extended its existing technology for alumina processing to produce high-purity silica.
Orbite HPA plant
The silica purification technology is based on its patented leaching process employing hydrochloric acid. The process facilitates the production of pure silica of 3N grade level corresponding to 99.9% purity and forms the foundation for achieving purity levels of 5N that corresponds to 99.999% and 7N corresponding to 99.99999%.
The global consumption for metallurgical grade silica in 2009 was 1.37 billion metric tonnes and in 2010 was 2.02 billion metric tonnes. The metallurgical grade silica which possesses 99.99% purity finds application in photovoltaic cells production. The cost of metallurgical grade silica in 2009 was $3/kg and that of 5N and 7N grade silica was close to $35/kg.
Silica is available in almost all the raw materials that are employed by Orbite in its manufacturing processes. The purification process now offers an extra source of revenue for the company. Orbite has the potential to become a leading producer of high quality silica for use in the production of optical glass, cement, photovoltaic devices and other specialty products owing to the high concentration of silica available in Grande-Valle clay deposit of Orbite.
The high purity alumina (HPA) plant of Orbite which is scheduled for commissioning by end of the year 2012 is envisaged to generate silica of purity higher than 99.9%. The smelter grade alumina (SGA) plant that is scheduled to commence operations by 2014 has the capacity to produce 1.2 million tonnes of silica of purity ranging from 95% to 99.9%.