The inorganic chemicals business diversifies our product line and expands our markets. We extract materials from the subsoil, such as natural brine and dolomite, and use residual sulfuric acid from the Metals division to produce supplies that have a wide variety of industrial uses and applications.
The chemical division consists of two processing plants and a chemical complex, known respectively as Fertirey, Industrias Magnelec and Química del Rey. The latter is one of Mexico’s most important and the largest sodium sulfate plant outside of China. This plant also produces magnesium sulfate and magnesium oxide.
Chemical Division
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Located in Torreón, Coahuila
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Fertirey
Processing of sulfuric acid from the Lead Smelter at the metallurgical complex.
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Installed capacity
311 thousand ton/year of ammonium sulfate
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Products
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Located in Ocampo, Coahuila
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Química del Rey
Exploitation of a deposit of natural brine and mineral salts, and a dolomite mine.
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Installed capacity
780 thousand ton/year of sodium sulfate
64 thousand ton/year of magnesium sulfate
90 thousand ton/year of magnesium oxide
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Located in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila
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Industrias Magnelec
Magnesium oxide processing from Química del Rey.
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Installed capacity
5 thousand ton/year of electro-fused magnesium oxide
10 thousand ton/year of electrical grade magnesium oxide
5.3 thousand ton/year of special millings -
Producto
- Special Millings
- Magnesium specialties
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Key Information Química del Rey
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Ocampo, Coahuila
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100% Peñoles
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1962-to date
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Two sodium sulfate plants, a magnesium specialty plant and one dolomite mine
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Sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate and magnesium oxide in diverse specialties.
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647*
* Figures to December 2023
Production in 2023
%Chg vs 2022
To view historical output of Química del Rey, visit our Data Center.
Sodium Sulfate production process
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Hydraulic mining
In Laguna del Rey, Coahuila, we obtain virgin brine containing sodium sulfate and magnesium salts.
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Crystallization
The virgin brine is pumped to storage tanks, cooled and crystallized to obtain Glauber salt.
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Filtration
Glauber salt settles and is sent on to the washing and filtering stage.
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Centrifuge and fusion
Glauber salt is melted to obtain anhydrous sodium sulfate.
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Drying and shipping
Anhydrous sodium sulfate is allowed to settle, then it is dried and stored for subsequent shipment.