MLC makes major investment for world-class kiln at newly acquired lime operation in Bonne Terre, Mo.

Mississippi Lime Company (MLC), a leading global supplier of lime products and technical solutions headquartered in St. Louis, has committed to constructing a state-of-the-art, sustainable kiln at its facility in Bonne Terre, Mo. The design of the kiln will utilize high-efficiency natural gas, reduce the site’s carbon footprint, enable the production of higher quality lime and contribute to a low-dust environment for employees.

The site, which has been in operation for nearly a century, was acquired by MLC in 2022 and is used to produce dolomitic quicklime, also known as magnesium calcium oxide. Kiln construction will begin in early 2024. Commissioning will be completed by 2026.

“Our priority for the new site is to bring it in line with our global strategies for sustainability, safety and operational excellence. For example, one of our first investments after the acquisition was upgrading personal protective equipment to the latest technologies, to match what we use at our other facilities,” said Paul Hogan, President and CEO.

He continued, “we also wanted the most advanced technology for our new kiln, with the objective of producing higher quality, more sustainably produced lime, similar to kilns we built for high-calcium lime at our Ste. Genevieve, Mo. site. This is a massive investment and undertaking, but it’s worth doing because it will create significant, measurable impacts for people and planet.”

The new kiln will enable MLC to produce dolomitic quicklime that meets tight specifications for impurities, meeting a range of customer needs in sectors such as steel and glass. Sustainability and air quality at the site will also be improved, as a result of the design’s superior efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, dust and particulates.

MLC is also investing in other improvements at the site, including rail capabilities, a laboratory for quality and applications testing and communal employee areas.

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Part of MLC’s team in Bonne Terre

“We wanted the most advanced technology for our new kiln, with the objective of producing higher quality, more sustainably produced lime…it’s worth doing because it will create significant, measurable impacts for people and planet.”

— Paul Hogan, CEO

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Dolomitic quicklime is valued for applications in steel production, glass refractories and insulation manufacturing. In steel milling, the high magnesium content of dolomitic quicklime helps to extend furnace refractory life by reducing the amount of wear the slag can cause during the production process. This creates opportunities to improve the efficiency and economy of milling processes by enabling refractories to last longer — reducing costs, labor and greenhouse gas emissions associated with more frequent replacement. It also acts as a flux agent to remove impurities.

Dolomitic lime is utilized in refractory linings for steel production, including basic oxygen furnaces and electric arc furnaces

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About Mississippi Lime Company
Mississippi Lime Company (“MLC”), headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is a leading global supplier of high-calcium lime products and technical solutions. These offerings bring essential performance and value to a broad range of market applications, including metals, construction, chemical synthesis, water and emissions treatment, glass, textiles, plastics, rubber, agriculture, foods and beverages. With over a century in business, MLC has built a reputation on the quality of its products and services, as well as an unwavering commitment to safety, sustainability and service. The company’s expanding global footprint includes a diversified, reliable network of production and distribution facilities in the U.S., as well as in the UK through our Singleton Birch business.