Calcium Carbonate Industry, Reshaping the Market Growth, Serbian supplier to match European industrial demand
Serbian Belkalhan calcium carbonate mine with its 99% highest quality and deposits confirmed could push local and European pharmaceutical industry forward with competitive supply options.
Considering the fact that Serbia is at the doorstep of EU market, which has its supply chains severely disturbed, Serbian calcium carbonate supplier could match the needs of its European customers.
In the same Belkalhan calcite mine and company operations can serve as trading hub toward third markets as Serbia has several key free trade agreements with large markets.
Europe is the fastest growing region with a market demand increase of 8.4% by 2030 because of the favorable legal and regulatory environment, coupled with a coherent industrial strategy.
Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the formula CaCO3. It is a common substance found in rocks as the minerals calcite and aragonite (most notably as limestone, which is a type of sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcite).
Serbian calcite deposits are confirmed with 99% of purity and whiteness which makes it a unique quality deposit in Europe, highly attractive for pharmaceutical, chemical, paper, food, wine and other industries.
The demand for precipitated calcium carbonate increased from the pharmaceutical and residential water treatment sectors of the region during the lockdowns imposed in the world to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Pharmaceutical market calcite application remains stable high by 2040 and European market is one of the key players, including both pharma producing companies but also investors and funds.
Automotive application of calcium carbonate is the fastest growing segment with market demand increase of 7.5% by 2030 owing to the growing utilization of the product in power trains, electrical components, interior furnishes, exterior furnishes, and chassis, dominantly monitored by European customers, but also investors and funds.
One of the most significant trends in calcium carbonate technology is the development of new and improved methods for manufacturing calcium carbonate from calcite deposits.
This has led to the production of calcium carbonate that is of a higher quality and purity than ever before. Belkalhan calcite deposits are already highest of quality with 99% of whiteness and purity which makes them perfect match for industrial application.
This has in turn allowed calcium carbonate to be used in a wider range of applications, including in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
The global precipitated calcium carbonate market size is expected to reach USD 23.39 billion
by 2030, expanding at average 8% until 2040. This is attributed to the rising inclusion of the product in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries.
In addition, the rise in the standard of living along with the improvement in the hygiene standard has led to the increasing usage of tissues and packaging paper. This, in turn, is likely to positively impact the demand for the precipitated calcium carbonate market in the coming years.
The pulp & paper application continues to grow at a significant rate on the account of the
rising demand for precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) due to its operational flexibility.
Some factors favoring the usage of the product in the paper industry are high brightness and relatively low price, and the attainment of a porous surface of the paper sheet due to the rhombohedral particle shape.
Key market players are investing in the onsite manufacturing of calcium carbonate for large- scale industries. The organizations in the sector are focused on the development of new products with various properties to cater to industry demands. Belkalhan calcite mine exploitation technology concepts are fully adjustable to customer special demands in terms of product and package.
Belkalhan calcite mine offers limestone quarries and form a high level of value chain integration by supplying natural & unprocessed limestone, processing the raw materials according to customer’s demand, and distributing the product.
Belkalhan is the Serbian based mining exploitation company focused on graphite and calcite. The company aims to utilise unique quality of raw materials for application in industry high tech products like batteries, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Having all exploitation permits secured and underground mine technology developed, Belkalhan aims to support overall economy transformation. R&D center for high tech critical raw materials supply remains primarily goal in which we seek reliable, institutional partner investor.
More informations could be found on: belkalhan.eu
Serbian team on the threshold of scientific discoveries: batteries without toxic and rare materials
One of the main tasks of scientists around the world in recent years is to work on storage of large amounts of energy, i.e. batteries that would store the generated energy and thereby contribute to a more efficient energy transition.
Among the numerous researchers is a group of six young scientists from Serbia who are looking for a battery that would not contain extremely toxic and at the same time rare materials such as lithium or cobalt.
Under the name HiSuperBat (Healthy super battery) they have created a system that does not contain lithium and cobalt but calcium or magnesium, and also uses an aqueous electrolyte that is not flammable and toxic like commercial organic electrolyte.
Doctor Milica Vujković, who manages the project, states that the development of such battery systems could be an excellent energy solution, because thereby the usage of expensive and scarce lithium will be avoided, the cost of the battery will be reduced and safety will be increased…
That is why the search for new, cheap and safer materials, capable of storing a large amount of multivalent ions, is of great importance and is the subject of numerous researches in the world, including the HiSuperBat project, which received 180,000 euros.
Their two-year project, which ends at the end of 2022, is one of 59 selected projects supported through the Promis project supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia.
“The project is focused on the development of electrode materials for the next generation of electrical energy storage devices, based on more naturally occurring elements such as calcium, aluminum, and magnesium,” Milica Vujković, a research associate at the Faculty of Physical Chemistry, said for the N1 portal.
She points out that all young experts have expertise in the synthesis and structural study of micro/nanomaterials, electrochemistry, batteries and supercapacitors, that the project has provided new fundamental and practical knowledge in the field of energy storage, which has been published in 11 international scientific journals and 18 conference announcements.
Materials have been developed that can store a large amount of multivalent ions per unit mass.
“On the one hand, carbon material has been developed as an electrode material for supercapacitors of the latest generation, which can store large amounts of aluminum, magnesium and calcium ions on the basis of charge.
A supercapacitor was constructed at the level of a single cell, with carbon electrodes obtained from waste biomass (from the wine industry) and an aqueous electrolyte based on aluminum positive ions, whose optimal operating voltage in terms of long-term charge/discharge is 1.5 volts (V), which is half a volt more than a classic water supercapacitor,” she says.
These results were published in the prestigious electrochemical magazine Journal of Power Sources, and were done in cooperation with Montenegro and Slovenia.
In addition, the young scientists showed how the voltage and capacity properties of the carbon cathode can be improved by mixing aluminum and calcium ions.
Vujković also points out that a cathode material for batteries based on vanadium oxide has been developed that can store a large amount of calcium ions, showing higher capacities compared to the storage of lithium ion charges.
“By combining the aforementioned carbon material as an anode, calcium vanadium oxide as a cathode and an electrolyte based on calcium salt, we assembled a hybrid cell that has an optimal voltage of 1.4-1.5 volts (V).
The advantage over classic lithium-ion systems is that the constructed battery cell does not contain lithium and cobalt, and uses an aqueous electrolyte that is not flammable and toxic like commercial organic electrolytes,” she says.
As a disadvantage, Vujković cites a lower voltage compared to a commercial lithium ion cell due to the use of an aqueous instead of an organic electrolyte.
“However, something like that could be replaced by sequentially connecting more cells, which would produce a heavier battery.”
For this reason, their potential application is currently limited to systems where weight and volume are not limiting and price plays a primary role”, says our interlocutor.
Production in Serbia
The research was started with the idea that potential discoveries can be made in Serbia. It is the same now. Milica says that the constructed carbon supercapacitor as well as the hybrid cell have the potential to be produced in Serbia.
“Their performance is obtained at the level of a coin-shaped cell, which would enable application in some everyday needs: watches, toys, kitchen scales, car keys, calculators…” she states.
However, before this could happen, additional experiments are necessary in terms of optimizing cell performance.
“There is room to improve the material’s performance and overcome its weak points, and we have several ideas in mind that could be implemented.”
After the completed phase at the laboratory level, the transfer of knowledge to the industrial sector would entail testing the reproducibility of the synthesis of the given materials on a larger scale and their functionality, as well as the optimization of the cell assembly procedure for mass needs.
Such batteries would have the potential to replace lead accumulators or nickel-cadmium water systems, and theoretically speaking, they would also have the potential for application in large stationary energy storage systems connected to renewable sources, where price and safety are more important than mass and energy,” Vujković points out.
Contemporary world research
Modern world research is focused on the development of different types of batteries, based on different chemistry.
For the development of all types of batteries, it is important that they can be used in different applications, because each type of battery has certain advantages and disadvantages. Milica, on the other hand, points out that you never know in advance what can be discovered through research.
“For now, the market is mainly dominated by Lithium-ion batteries based on carbon as the anode, organic electrolyte containing lithium ions, and lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide (NMC) as the cathode.”
However, we are aware of the fact that lithium is a limited resource and that its reserves will not be able to meet the future needs of the galloping electric car industry,” she points out.
“I am convinced that the situation in that field will also change significantly.” As for our research, in the course of the project, in addition to the development of carbon and vanadium oxide, we also started the development of new types of cathodes for sodium ion batteries, based on sodium and iron.
Therefore, the further direction of our research, in addition to the improvement of the developed multivalent model, will also be focused on the development of the sodium ion system, with the aim of obtaining the best possible model not only in terms of energy, but also in terms of price and environmental acceptability.
Of course, I expect that this type of research will be recognized through future national and international calls to which we apply”, concludes Milica Vujković.
Calcite battery industry to match lithium demand and high risks, Serbian mine could provide reliable supply
Calcium ions could be used as an alternative technology to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), bringing benefits as a result of their abundance and low cost. Serbia could be one of the top suppliers of calcium carbonate for battery production as it has the highest confirmed quality of calcite deposits of 99% pureness even attractive for high tech pharmaceutical and chemical industry.
Due to a significant disturbances in the supply chain in Europe, there was an interruption in the consistent delivery of materials. Serbian calcite and graphite mine Belkalhan.eu, its availability and cost effective exploitation makes this project highly attractive for investment and R&D JV project.
Time to Take a Calcium Battery Seriously
Calcium is 2,000 times more abundant than lithium, and is available locally in Europe. We find it in anything from bones to chalk in fact. Calcite / calcium carbonate is one the most abundant elements on the earth’s crust,’ adds Dr. Palacín of Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid.
‘It’s not as geographically concentrated as lithium is. This could make a battery inexpensive because the raw material is cheap.’ His team’s calcium battery prototype is already proving promising. Europa.Eu reports the material forms a successful negative cathode with twice the electron exchange as lithium.
‘As any calcium travels through the electrolyte, two electrons would travel outside (instead of one with lithium),’ Dr. Palacín explains. ‘One could imagine that for the same battery size, the range would be higher if you used it in an electric vehicle.’
Why Develop a Calcium Battery Now?
Lithium batteries are making a significant contribution to stored energy. However, their success could become their downfall as scarce lithium prices skyrocket, and the green circular economy becomes paramount. Moreover, the silvery metal is dangerous to handle according to Europa.Eu, questioning its sustainability further.
Europe alone may demand 60 times more lithium by 2050 to fulfill the need for electric vehicle batteries. Not to mention renewable energy storage that will form the backbone of reaching its emissions goals.Meanwhile lithium mines, many in remote locations are struggling to meet 2022 demands and are opposing serious environmental opposition.
Calcite batteries are surely becoming more attractive for industry usage but also for investors seeking sustainable returns. Serbian academic and technology institutions could serve as excellent ground base for joint venture R&D projects and later its industrial usage. Competitiveness of local Serbian market could be another driver for Joint venture with calcite mine developer Belkalhan company which has all the preconditions meet including permits and location infrastructure managed.
New Graphite supplier from south Europe could become industrial primary supplier of critical raw material
Demand for Global Graphite Market Size To Hit EUR 30 Billion by 2028
The Belkalhan graphite mine in South Serbia is one of most suitable resources –it is based on the 16,6% high-quality graphite deposit which even has been designated as mineral deposit of national interest in EU. With 4 million tons of reserves confirmed on only 25% of project location, the project offers highest possible potential to owners and its future new shareholders which are willing to join forces in this unique R&D critical raw material exploitation.
Belkalhan mining exploitation company confirmed that new drills on graphite intersections are underway with preliminary results showing the same 16,6% or higher quality.
The location of the mine, with its numerous competitive advantages on infrastructure/logistics/processing/ and R&D facility are in the parallel focus of Belkalhan development teams supported by experienced mining experts and university mining institutes.
Belkalhan teams are developing and engineering future processing facility designs along with tailor made exploitation and processing technologies which will fit the local landscape with highest environment and social impact standards and action plans. Stakeholder actions plans are under development as well as its strategic investor relations strategy already operational and due to the large number of inquiries from Asian markets.
Belkalhan remains devoted to its primarily strategic orientation and goal toward opening R&D center thru JV which will be local community based and which will could serve as technology transfer center for Serbian and European industry.
Potential JV partnership and investment will enable Belkalhan to integrate downstream into the manufacturing of graphite products for a number of high-growth markets including lithium ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells, graphene and nanomaterials, thermal management in consumer electronics, smart building products and fire retardants. Graphite deposits with unique European quality makes the mine one of the most attractive in Europe.
More informations on project potentials at belkalhan.eu
Serbian calcite exploitation company Belkalhan opening supply channels toward Europe industrial users for delivery contracts 2024/2025
Serbian based Mining development and exploitation company Belkalhan, the owner of biggest confirmed reserves of calcite/calcium carbonate announces client invitation for supply contracts for year 2024,2025.
Pharmaceutical, chemical, food industry in Europe could benefit from this new supply source, making it reliable source in Europe. The scope of application of calcite is so wide making it almost essential resource in processing industry.
With its highest confirmed unique purity, quality and various industry application, Belkalhan calcite materials reserves could become Europe prime supply location for industrial application. Each industrial user of calcium carbonate have its specific materials requirements and Belkalhan is ready for its client technology application but also processing & delivery adjustments im accordance with client needs.
Intersected Deposits of Calcite as calcium carbonate resource has 99,99% purity and 98% whitenesses in the deposit line of 15m thickness and 125m height, the length of 720m of confirmed deposit which indicates extremely rare deposit quantity and quality which makes it a unique world resource.
Calcium Carbonate is used in several applications in the industrial, concrete, and oil markets. Highly purified forms of calcium carbonate are also used in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical markets. In the oil drilling industry, calcium carbonate is sometimes added to drilling muds and completion fluids to increase the density of the fluids. In industrial, concrete, and building applications, calcium carbonate is used as a chemical building block for the preparation of building materials.
The purified calcium carbonate powder that Belkalhan supplies for pharmaceutical applications is used in the preparation of various medicines and tablets such as antacids. It is also used as an acid neutralizing agent in certain food and beverage preparations that require a balanced pH level.
Belkalhan supplies calcium carbonate as a fine white powder or granulation for use in industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Belkalhan offers different grades of calcium carbonate – technical grade calcium carbonate is used as a chemical building block, as a base, and as a source of both calcium and carbonate anion. We also can supply pharmaceutical grade calcium carbonate which is used in certain medical preparations such as nutritional calcium supplements and antacid tablets.
More informations on project potentials at belkalhan.eu