Food grade silica from Tixosil

Solvay’s High-Performance Precipitated Silica for Food, Feed & Specialty Industrial Applications

As a global leader in specialty materials, Solvay has built a sterling reputation in the food and fine chemical industries with its Tixosil® series of food-grade precipitated amorphous silica. This series of products, represented by the flagship Tixosil® 38A, has become a benchmark solution for global food, dietary supplement, feed and fine chemical industries with its stable performance, comprehensive global compliance certification, and diversified application adaptability. This article will comprehensively analyze the core characteristics, technical parameters, application scenarios and selection guide of Tixosil series food-grade silica, providing professional reference for industry customers.

Core Overview of Tixosil Series Food-Grade Silica

Tixosil® series food-grade silica is a high-performance functional additive produced by advanced precipitation process, with amorphous structure, stable chemical inertness, high adsorption capacity and excellent powder flow modification properties. Its core functions cover anti-caking, flow aid, high-capacity adsorption carrier and processing aid, which can effectively solve the problems of caking, poor fluidity and difficult dispersion of powder systems in high humidity and high viscosity environments, and take into account both processing operability and end product stability.

The flagship model Tixosil® 38A, as a high absorption capacity and coarse particle size type precipitated silica, is the core product of the series for food and feed industrial applications. Its basic information is as follows:

• Chemical Name: Amorphous Precipitated Silica
• Molecular Formula: SiO₂·xH₂O
• CAS Number: Main No. 112926-00-8; Alternative No. 7631-86-9
• EINECS Number: 231-545-4
• Dry Basis Purity: ≥97%
• Appearance: White, tasteless and odorless powder
• Packaging Specifications: 20kg/25kg paper bags, FIBC flexible bulk bags, bulk supply
• Supply Region: Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America (global mainstream markets)

Key Technical Indicators and Performance Advantages

Tixosil® 38A has precise and controllable performance parameters, and its core technical indicators fully meet the stringent requirements of food-grade applications. The typical values and specification limits are integrated from Solvay's official technical data sheets as follows:

The coarse particle size design of Tixosil® 38A effectively reduces dust generation during processing, while the ultra-high oil absorption value and specific surface area endow it with excellent adsorption capacity, which can efficiently lock the moisture and grease in the powder system, fundamentally solving the caking problem of products during storage and transportation. Its nearly neutral pH value and chemical inertness will not affect the flavor, taste and active ingredient stability of the end product, which is perfectly suitable for food and dietary supplement systems.

Full-Scene Application Solutions

With excellent comprehensive performance and full compliance certification, Tixosil series food-grade silica is widely used in multiple industries, and its core application scenarios and values are as follows:

Food Industry

It is suitable for seasoning packets, barbecue marinades, mixed spices, milk powder substitutes, coffee powder, sweeteners and other powdered food systems. Its core functions are anti-caking, improving powder fluidity, and adsorbing excess grease and moisture. The product has no peculiar smell, does not affect the taste and flavor of the product, and can maintain the long-term stability of powdered food in high humidity and high temperature environments.

Dietary Supplement Industry

For powdered nutritional supplements, vitamin premixes, mineral powders and other products, Tixosil series can be used as a high-load carrier for active ingredients and anti-caking agent. Its chemical inertness will not react with vitamins, minerals and other active ingredients, which can effectively ensure the activity stability of functional ingredients during the shelf life, and at the same time improve the processing fluidity of the premix system.

Agriculture and Feed Industry

It is widely used in livestock and poultry feed premixes, pet food, crop protection additives, and plant nutrition formulas. It plays the roles of anti-caking, active ingredient carrier, and improving processing fluidity. The product has excellent temperature resistance, fully complies with global feed regulations, and can significantly improve the storage stability and production and processing efficiency of feed products.

Fine Chemical and Specialty Fields

In addition to food and feed applications, Tixosil series also meets the stringent requirements of pharmaceutical excipients (non-injection), cosmetic powder raw materials, powder coatings, pigments, plastic fillers, desiccants and other fields. It can be used as a processing aid, anti-caking agent and dispersant, with excellent dispersibility and low heavy metal content, and has strong compliance with global regulations in various industries.

Global Compliance and Authority Certification

As a food-grade functional additive, the full range of Tixosil series products has passed the most stringent global regulatory certification, which can meet the market access requirements of all major countries and regions in the world:

• Food-Grade Regulatory Compliance: Complies with FCC (Food Chemicals Codex) standards, EU Food Contact Materials Regulation 10/2011/EU, EU Feed/Food Regulation 2002/32/EC and its updated versions and amendments.
• International Authority Certification: Halal certification, Kosher certification.
• Safety Statement: Allergen-free, Non-GMO, no solvent residue, no irradiation, BSE/TSE-free, not included in the list of hazardous substances in California Proposition 65.
• Production System Certification: GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
• Regional Regulatory Compliance: Registered in the US TSCA inventory, Canada DSL inventory, and EU REACH, fully meeting the global market access requirements.

Tixosil Full Series Food-Grade Silica Selection Guide

Solvay Tixosil series has a complete product matrix, which can provide targeted solutions for different application scenarios and process requirements. The detailed parameter comparison and selection suggestions are as follows:

Selection Suggestions: For high humidity and high viscosity powder systems, Tixosil® 38A is preferred; for ultra-fine powder with low addition requirements, Tixosil® 333 is selected; for paste thickening and high adsorption scenarios, Tixosil® 331 is suitable; for systems with high dispersion requirements, Tixosil® 383 is the best choice; for conventional general food anti-caking needs, Tixosil® 68B has the highest cost performance.

Processing, Use and Storage Specifications

To ensure the best performance of Tixosil series food-grade silica, Solvay provides the following standardized processing and storage suggestions:

Processing and Use Recommendations

• Mixing Process: It is recommended to add the product in the middle and late stages of powder raw material mixing, with the mixing speed controlled at 300-500 rpm and the mixing time of 5-10 minutes to ensure uniform dispersion.
• Addition Level: Adjust according to the humidity and viscosity of the system. The conventional addition ratio is 0.1-2.0% (mass fraction), and it can be increased to 3.0% in high humidity environments.
• Equipment Requirements: It is recommended to use closed mixing equipment with local ventilation to prevent dust flying.
• Precautions: Avoid mixing or processing with incompatible substances such as strong oxidants (fluorine, chlorine trifluoride) and hydrogen fluoride; control the environmental humidity ≤60% during processing to prevent the product from absorbing moisture and affecting performance; when compounding with other additives, pre-mix with powder raw materials first, then mix with liquid components.

Storage and Shelf Life

• Storage Conditions: Sealed storage in a cool and dry place, with ambient temperature controlled at 15-30°C, relative humidity ≤60%, away from heat sources, fire sources and humid environments.
• Stacking Requirements: The stacking height of paper bag packaging shall not exceed 8 layers, and the single stack of FIBC flexible bulk bags shall not exceed 2 to avoid extrusion and caking.
• Shelf Life: 1 year from the date of production under the condition of unopened original packaging and compliant storage conditions.
• Deterioration Judgment: If the product is caked, discolored or has peculiar smell, it is forbidden to use.

Conclusion

Solvay Tixosil series food-grade silica, with leading precipitation production process, precise performance control, and comprehensive global compliance certification, provides a safe, efficient and stable powder solution for many industries such as food, feed, and dietary supplements. Whether it is the anti-caking demand of high-humidity powder or the high-load carrier demand of active ingredients, the Tixosil series can provide customized selection adaptation, helping customers improve product quality and production efficiency.

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