Novochrom chromium compounds

OJSC Novotroitsk Plant of Chromium Compounds (Novochrom) began operations in 1963. In 1992, it was reorganised into an open joint stock company. The plant specialises in producing sodium dichromate, chromic anhydride, chrome oxide pigments and metallurgical grades, sodium sulfate, alumothermal metallic chromium, paint and varnish products. The annual production capacity is 80,000 tonnes of chromium compounds, which is 67.1% of the ore extracted (as Cr03). The plant produces crystalline sodium dichromate - anhydrous and sodium dichromate - dihydrate of the following specifications: The product is packed into soft containers of 1000kg net/paper or PP Bags of 25kg net palletised and shrink-wrapped/metal drums of 75kg net. The packaging is approved by international standards for dangerous cargo transportation. For the tanning and fur industries the plant produces dry chromium sulfate, the production of which was developed in 1994. The estimated capacity of dry chromium sulfate is 40,000 tonnes per year. Two different technologies are applied in production: the first method is based on sodium dichromate reduction by sulfur combustion products. The second method is based on the reduction of Cr (VI) compounds to basic chromium sulfate by saccharose in the presence of sulfuric acid followed by chrome sulfate solution filtration. Then the product is spray dried. Specifications of dry chromium sulfate The chrome sulfate is masked by sodium sulfate. Additionally, the high basicity product is masked with organic acids, the residues from the oxidation of saccharose. The product is packed into paper and PP bags of 25kg net or soft containers of 600kg net. The product can be delivered by road, railway or sea, but not by air. The plant is provided with a reliable raw material source and has developed its own chrome ore deposit. In addition, chrome ore supplies are imported from Kazakhstan. Storage facilities enable the stocks of raw materials to be kept for two months and finished products for one month. The enterprise has an experienced personnel. 220 employees of the 1,400 working at the plant are highly educated. Vasiliy I Izmalkin has been general director of Novotroitsk since 1990.