What is precipitated silica?

Silicon (Si) is one of the most common elements on earth. Like iron, it occurs in nature most often paired with oxygen. Silica is SiO2, the primary constituent of quartz sand.

Silicon in its various compounds is used in many different products. In one of its purest forms it serves as the basis for the integrated circuits that power our digital age.

High purity silica is used in various forms in many industries. Precipitated silica is used as a filler and softener to improve the performance of plastics and rubber. It is also an active ingredient in toothpastes and an additive in many food and pharmaceutical products.

  • Tire materials market forecasted to reach US$100bn by 2028; silica to overtake carbon black.–Tire Technology International (March 2019)

How is precipitated silica produced?

The conventional method used today is based on reacting sodium silicate with sulfuric acid. Sodium silicate is a salt that is produced by reacting the silica in quartz sand with caustic soda and water at high temperature.

How is Yava’s process different?

In Yava’s innovative process, high-purity silica is precipitated directly from mined sand at low temperature without the intermediate step of producing sodium silicate and without using sulfuric acid. Yava’s approach is simpler, requires less energy, and has zero CO2 emissions.

What are the advantages of Yava’s process?

Greater control of product physical properties

  • particle size and distribution
  • density
  • pore size and volume
  • surface area

Flexibility in end-product packaging

  • Granular
  • Pellet
  • Micro-pill

Lower total production cost

  • Simplified flow sheet using available industrial equipment
  • Based on widely available, low cost raw materials
  • Closed loop system that produces a readily marketable by-product
  • These factors yield the ability to produce custom blends
  • More environmentally-friendly with no CO2 emissions