OxyChile's production plant in Talcahuano manufactures liquid chlorine , caustic soda , hydrogen, sodium hypochlorite , hydrochloric acid , ferric chloride and calcium chloride , which represent an important group of basic chemicals that allows the Company to offer quick and low cost solutions to its customers.
The process core consists of 32 OxyTech MGC membrane electrolizers , the most modern technology available with low emission levels, since mercury and asbetos are not present. The raw material used is sodium chloride (salt), brought by vessel from the North of Chile which in turn is delivered by truck to the production plant where it is finally stored.
The sodium chloride is dissolved in water and treated in sodium carbonate and caustic soda to precipitate its content of calcium and magnesium. After this step, sodium chloride is treated with other reactive materials, cleared and filtrated. Then the pH is adjusted before the secondary treatment system which allows higher purification, i.e., ultra-pure brine suitable for membrane cells.
Then, in the membrane cells, sodium chloride is dissociated by electrolysis, generating chlorine gas, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and hydrogen gas.
Next, the chlorine gas current is cooled, washed, dried, compressed and liquefied to obtain liquid chlorine with low humidity levels, ready for customer delivery in an inexpensive and sound way.
Caustic Soda is produced with about 32% concentration in the cells. Then it is cooled, stored in tanks and delivered to customers. This chemical product is obtained in solution and can be classified as membrane liquid caustic soda (high purity level) or as diaphragm caustic soda (produced by OxyChem in U.S.A.)
Likewise, OxyChile produces Hydrogen obtained along with chlorine and caustic soda in the electrolytic cells. This gas is cooled and compressed before practical applications (metallurgic, petrochemical and chemical treatments). It is transported only through pipes due to its physical characteristics
Sodium hypochlorite is produced by the reaction of chlorine and caustic soda in a system that leaves a 14% to 16% solution. This process controls the variables affecting its stability such as temperature, residual alkalinity and impurities from raw materials and production equipment.
Hydrochloric acid is a chemical product obtained by synthesis where hydrogen with chlorine react at high temperatures. This generates a gas which is absorbed in demineralized water resulting in hydrochloric acid with 32% concentration.
OxyChile also manufactures Ferric Chloride from diluted ferrous chloride. This is concentrated in a process that adds chlorine and iron to the solution, obtaining concentrated ferrous chloride which is transformed into ferric chloride by adding chlorine.
Finally, Calcium Chloride is produced by the reaction of calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid. Then a process of pH adjustment and filtration is carried out, generating a 35% solution.