It sure is when you live in Groningen. Not only is there the chlorine production of AkzoNobel in Delfzijl, but PPG produces precipitated silica almost next door.
It sure is when you live in Groningen. Not only is there the chlorine production of AkzoNobel in Delfzijl, but PPG produces precipitated silica almost next door. Amongst many other applications it is compounded in rubber for car tires, thereby partially replacing carbon black. To satisfy increasing demand a new 15000 tpy production facility has just been opened in Farmsum, again almost next door.
The stuff is made by combining a solution of sodium silicate (waterglass) and sulfuric acid under heavy agitation. The waterglass comes, amongst others, by a daughter of PQ Corporation in Winschoten (some 25 km south) by fusing sand and soda at 1400°C. PPG turns it back into silica again.