Panoramic Analysis of the Food-Grade Silicon Dioxide Industry: China's Technological Breakthroughs, the Rise of Leading Enterprises, and Future Trends

Against the backdrop of the global food industry’s drive toward refined upgrading, food-grade silicon dioxide (EU code: E551; China CNS No.: 02.004) has emerged as an indispensable core functional additive in sectors like milk powder, condiments, and beverages. Leveraging its multifaceted roles—including anti-caking, flow enhancement, stabilization, and adsorption—it has become a staple ingredient. Historically, high-end markets were long dominated by international brands, but in recent years, Chinese enterprises have achieved "corner overtaking" through technological innovation. They have not only broken foreign monopolies but also secured a prominent position in global competition. This article will analyze the industry from the perspectives of foundational knowledge, core application scenarios, advantages of domestic leading enterprises, and future trends. It will focus on the technological breakthroughs of Shandong Zhonglian Chemical and Guangdong Zhongqi Silicon Industry (formerly Guangzhou Zhongqi Silicon Industry) to unpack the development path and growth potential of China’s food-grade silicon dioxide sector.  

 I. Food-Grade Silicon Dioxide: The "Cornerstone" of the Food Industry with Both Safety and Functionality  

Food-grade silicon dioxide is a purified, amorphous form of silicon dioxide, primarily produced via two methods:  
-Fumed method: Yields high-purity, fine-particle products, ideal for use as stabilizers.  
-Precipitation method: Delivers cost-effective, versatile products, mainly used as anti-caking agents.  

Characterized by being odorless, tasteless, and highly chemically inert, it does not react with food components nor accumulate in the human body. Its particles cannot be absorbed by the digestive system and are fully excreted in feces—a safety profile officially validated by the U.S. FDA (GRAS certification), the European EFSA (approval for E551), and China’s national standard GB 2760.  

In terms of functionality, its core value spans the entire food production chain:  
- In powdered foods (e.g., milk powder, condiments), it absorbs free moisture and forms an "isolation film" around particles to prevent caking. Adding just 0.1%–1% can increase looseness by over 30%.  
- In the beverage and brewing industry, it stabilizes plant-based protein drink systems to avoid stratification, and adsorbs colloidal impurities in beer and wine—boosting liquor light transmittance to over 95%.  
- In functional foods, its porous structure acts as a carrier for probiotics and vitamins, protecting active ingredients from gastric acid erosion and improving nutrient retention rates.  

 II. Core Application Scenarios: Penetrating the Entire Food Industry Chain, Domestic Products Meeting Diverse Needs  

Food-grade silicon dioxide has deeply integrated into key links of the food industry. Domestic Chinese products, with their "customized adaptability" and "high cost-effectiveness," have gradually replaced international brands to become the market mainstream:  

 1. Dairy and Protein Products  
Addressing the issue of moisture absorption and caking in milk powder and protein powder, domestic high-purity silicon dioxide (e.g., precipitated products from Shandong Zhonglian) improves flowability when added at 0.2%–0.5%. With heavy metal content < 0.001%, it meets raw material standards for infant formula—breaking the monopoly of Evonik and Solvay in the high-end dairy segment.  

 2. Condiments and Solid Beverages  
- In chicken essence and compound seasoning powders, customized products from Guangdong Zhongqi adsorb volatile flavor compounds, reducing storage losses by over 25%.  
- In instant coffee and milk tea powders, their excellent dispersibility ensures uniform dissolution, aligning with China’s growing demand for convenient foods.  

 3. Brewing and Plant-Based Foods  
- As a clarifier, domestic silicon dioxide is widely used in beer and fruit wine production, replacing traditional diatomaceous earth to enhance clarification efficiency.  
- In plant-based protein drinks (e.g., soy milk, oat milk), fumed silicon dioxide (e.g., co-developed by Jiangsu Kingfa Technology and Guangdong Zhongqi) forms a stable suspension network to prevent protein precipitation.  

 4. Functional Foods and Feed  
- Shandong Zhonglian’s specialized silicon dioxide serves as a carrier for vitamin premixes, enabling 24-hour slow release of nutrients.  
- In bio-feed, its adsorption properties reduce mold growth, indirectly safeguarding animal health. It is now supplied in bulk to major domestic feed enterprises.  

 III. The Rise of Domestic Leaders: Technological Breakthroughs and Market Status of Shandong Zhonglian and Guangdong Zhongqi  

Amid the wave of domestic substitution, Shandong Zhonglian Chemical and Guangdong Zhongqi Silicon Industry have become the "dual engines" of high-end domestic food-grade silicon dioxide through technological breakthroughs and targeted strategies—driving China’s shift from a "follower" to a "leader."  

 1. Shandong Zhonglian Chemical: The "High-Purity Leader" Breaking International Monopolies  
As a pioneer in high-purity food-grade silicon dioxide in China, Shandong Zhonglian’s core strengths lie in extreme purity control and breakthroughs in high-end scenarios:  
-Technology: Its precipitated food-grade silicon dioxide boasts a purity of 99.5% and heavy metal (lead, arsenic) content < 0.001%—exceeding standards of some international brands. Certified by both the FDA and EFSA, it is the first domestic enterprise to enter the high-end vitamin premix market,.  
-Application: Its products are supplied in bulk to infant formula manufacturers and global vitamin giants. With an annual capacity of 48,000 tons (60% dedicated to food-grade products), it is China’s largest producer of high-purity food-grade silicon dioxide.  
-Strategic Layout: Shandong Zhonglian is upgrading to "dust-free production processes" to reduce contamination and developing specialized silicon dioxide for probiotic carriers—capturing opportunities in the functional food track.  

 2. Guangdong Zhongqi Silicon Industry: The "Scenario Expert" in Customization and Internationalization  
Formerly known as Guangzhou Zhongqi Silicon Industry, Guangdong Zhongqi stands out for its "scenario-specific customization" and "international expansion," establishing itself as an "innovation benchmark" for domestic food-grade silicon dioxide:  
-Products: It focuses on R&D for segmented scenarios: high-adsorption, flavor-preserving products for condiments; high-dispersion, stable products for plant-based drinks; and custom porous carrier silicon dioxide for probiotic foods. Certified by FAMI-QS, its products are exported to Europe and Southeast Asia, supplying Chinese factories of international firms like Unilever and Nestlé.  
-Technology: Mastering both fumed and precipitation production processes, its fumed products offer a controllable specific surface area of 200–350 m²/g. With dispersibility comparable to international brands and a price only 80% of imported alternatives, it delivers significant cost advantages.  
-Market: With an annual capacity of 50,000 tons (50% for food-grade products), it serves leading domestic dairy and condiment enterprises and holds over 30% of the high-end market in South China—dominating the regional high-end segment.  

 IV. Future Trends of China’s Food-Grade Silicon Dioxide: High-Endization, Green Development, and Functionalization  

As consumer demand for healthy foods grows and the global supply chain restructures, China’s food-grade silicon dioxide industry faces three key opportunities—with leaders like Shandong Zhonglian and Guangdong Zhongqi already taking action:  

 1. High-Endization: From "Substitution" to "Surpassing," Capturing Global High-Value Markets  
Domestic enterprises have already broken through high-end technological barriers. Shandong Zhonglian’s silicon dioxide for infant formula and Guangdong Zhongqi’s probiotic carriers match international brands in purity and functionality. Future R&D will focus on "ultra-high purity" (SiO₂ ≥ 99.8%) and "nano-scale" (particle size < 100 nm) products, targeting high-end health supplements and organic food markets in Europe and the U.S.—realizing a leap from "domestic substitution" to "global competition."  

 2. Green Development: Sustainable Production as a Core Competitiveness  
Responding to the "dual carbon" goal and "clean label" trend:  
- Shandong Zhonglian is promoting water recycling in production (with a recovery rate ≥ 85%).  
- Guangdong Zhongqi is piloting a natural gas-fueled fumed production process, reducing carbon emissions by 15%–20%.  

In the future, "low-dust processes" and "high-value utilization of by-products" (e.g., converting sodium sulfate by-products from precipitation into food-grade raw materials) will become industry standards. Green production capabilities will determine enterprises’ international influence.  

 3. Functionalization: Expanding Emerging Scenarios to Unlock Growth  
Domestic enterprises are exploring new applications for silicon dioxide in functional foods:  
- Shandong Zhonglian has developed a dietary fiber-silicon dioxide composite system that slows carbohydrate absorption, meeting demand for sugar-controlled foods.  
- Guangdong Zhongqi’s specialized stabilizers for plant-based drinks solve the stratification issue in high-protein beverages.  

Additionally, application potential in emerging fields like pet food and edible packaging is gradually being unlocked—becoming new growth drivers for the industry.  

V. Conclusion: Chinese Enterprises Leading the Industry into an Era of "High-Quality Development"  

Over the past decade, China’s food-grade silicon dioxide industry has transitioned from "relying on imports" to "achieving self-sufficiency." Leading enterprises like Shandong Zhonglian Chemical and Guangdong Zhongqi Silicon Industry have broken international monopolies through technological innovation and met diverse market needs with customized products—serving as core drivers of industry upgrading.  

In the future, as high-endization, green development, and functionalization deepen, China will not only consolidate its position as the world’s largest producer but also lead globally in technological innovation and market expansion. It will continue to provide "Chinese solutions" for the safe, efficient, and healthy development of the global food industry.