Mineral Technologies Mineral TechnologiesMinteqSpecialty Minerals
CareersCorporate ResponsibilityContact UsMSDSSitemapSearch
About SMIOur MineralsPaperSpecialty ApplicationsExhibitionsPublicationsUseful Links
 
Choosing the Right Grade of Specialty Minerals Calcium Carbonate

The Specialty Minerals Inc. (SMI) web page introducing SMI calcium carbonates for foods, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals and personal care products gives descriptions of the seven families of SMI precipitated and ground calcium carbonates and ground limestones for consumer products. Click here to view that page. The families differ in composition, regulatory compliance, shape and place of manufacture. One of the family characteristics that can determine the choice of which calcium carbonate grade to use in a new formulation is the type of regulations the final consumer product must meet:

  • One or more Pharmacopeias – US, European, British, Japanese
  • Food regulations – European Union E170i Miscellaneous Food Regulations or US Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) – calcium carbonate or limestone standards
  • Lead content restrictions – California Proposition 65

The production location may play a role in the choice:

  • Adams, Massachusetts
  • Birmingham, U.K.

To view the descriptions of the SMI calcium carbonate families, the type healthcare regulations each can meet, and their manufacturing sites, click here.


Sizes and Shapes of Specialty Minerals Calcium Carbonates
Another factor is the size and shape of the different SMI calcium carbonates.  They can be gathered into groups which may help in the process of choosing the right grades to test. Optimizing the sensory and physical properties of the final product will often require a particular size and/or shape calcium carbonate or limestone.

The groups of SMI calcium carbonates for foods, nutritional supplements, antacids and other pharmaceuticals, and personal care products are:

  • Small or nano solid precipitated calcium carbonates (PCCs) with particle sizes of 0.07 to 0.8 microns. The nano PCC products are Calofort® U and Multifex-MM® USP PCCs.  The small products are ViCALity Albafil®, ViCALity Albaglos®, and CalEssence® 70 and 80 PCCs.
  • Medium scalenohedral or acicular PCCs with particle sizes of 1.9 to 2.8 microns. These PCCs have more open structures with high surface areas.  The products in this group are CalEssence® 160, Calopake® 5970, Extra Light and Light, Sturcal™ F, and ViCALity® Extra Light, Light and Medium PCCs.
  • Medium solid PCCs with particle sizes of 3.0 to 6.0 microns. The products in this group include CalEssence® 300 and 450, Sturcal™ H and L, and ViCALity® Heavy and Extra Heavy PCCs.
  • Medium solid ground calcium carbonate (GCC) for food fortification. The product in this group is ViCALity® GF GCC, a FCC calcium carbonate, with a particle size of 4 microns.
  • Medium solid ground limestones with particle sizes of 3.5 to 6 microns for less demanding uses. The products in this group include Vicron® 15-15 FG, 25-11 FG and 31-6 FG ground limestones. FCC limestone standards apply.
  • Large solid PCCs high density PCC grades, 12 microns in size.  CalEssence® 1500 and ViCALity® Ultra Heavy PCCs fit in this group.
  • Large solid ground limestones with particle sizes of 8 FG to 17 FG microns for less demanding uses. Vicron® 41-8 and 75-17 are the FCC limestone products.

Among these SMI calcium carbonate grades will be one that will give the desired balance of aesthetic and performance properties with the economics of your product, while providing the needed level of elemental calcium and regulatory compliance.

The links below will allow you to:

  • Read about the specifics of using SMI calcium carbonates in your product applications and the individual grades recommended.
  • Read more about the product families and the members of the families.
  • Download data sheets for the products.
  • Order a sample of the ones that fit best.

 

Learn more: