Turning science into operational performance

At Lhoist, innovation is built on scientific expertise and guided by the realities of your operations.   

We apply mineral science, chemistry, and process engineering to develop solutions that deliver reliable performance under industrial conditions. By working closely with your technical teams, we translate scientific knowledge into practical, measurable improvements for your operations at plant level.  

Our goal is to deliver long-term value through efficient, high-performing solutions that support your objectives and provide consistent, reliable results you can depend on. 

Our innovation approach

Innovation and New Business Development (NBD) is structured around scientific rigor and industrial applications. We start from a deep understanding of mineral composition, reactivity, and process interactions - and use this knowledge to anticipate change and solve new operational challenges.  

Our key objectives are to: 

  • Drive profitable, sustainable and profitable growth through innovative solutions, advanced production processes and strong technical support.
  • Unlock the full potential of limestonedolomite and minerals in existing and emerging applications.
  • Develop patented specialty products tailored to specific industrial requirements.
  • Research energy‑efficient technologies to optimize operations and reduce environmental impact.
  • Maintain strong scientific capabilities through global knowledge sharing and partnerships with universities, institutes and technical specialists.

This approach reflects a long-term mindset, supported by sustained investment in research, talent, and operational capabilities. 

Solutions tailored to your operation, performance, operational safety and efficiency

Our scientific understanding of mineral properties and process interactions allows us to design products aligned with your operational constraints, performance targets, and safety requirements. 

Our approach includes: 

  • Automated, reliable and safe quarrying and treatment operations 
  • Kilns selected and operated to ensure maximum process compatibility 
  • Continuous improvement in energy‑efficiency and transition toward low-carbon fuels 
  • Continuous reduction of by-products through responsible raw material management 

The results: consistent product quality, greater operational stability and measurable efficiency gains across your operations. 

Sustainable practices supporting your transition

Our R&D teams focus on solutions that help customers address evolving regulatory and environmental expectations in areas such as: 

Our research centers act as hubs for training, laboratory validation, pilot-scale testing and full‑scale industrial trials either at our facilities or directly at your site. 

Improving today’s products while designing tomorrow’s

Continous innovation

Through close collaboration with customers and scientific partners, we continuously refine existing solutions and design new mineral-based concepts that enhance performance and expand your application possibilities. 

Our pilot-scale facilities enable us to: 

  • Simulate real industrial operating conditions 
  • Test new methodologies 
  • Expand product portfolios 
  • Improve product consistency and process efficiency 

With more than 1,000 identified limestone, dolomite and mineral types worldwide, our scientific teams tailor chemical and physical properties to deliver reliable and high‑performance industrial solutions. 

Co‑creating solutions for new markets and applications

Expanding business with you

We explore new market opportunities in collaboration with customers across all our sectors
These initiatives rely on structured partnerships with customers, academic institutions, research organizations, and private experts, supported by dedicated talent and financial resources.

Protecting and advancing our technological leadership

Lhoist innovations and intellectual property

Our innovation strategy is supported by a robust intellectual property portfolio with nearly 100 innovations and 600 granted or pending patents 

Patents

Patent Calco-magnesian aqueous suspension and method for the production thereof (EP1663869B1)
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Patent Calco-magnesian aqueous suspension and method for the production thereof (US8206680B2))
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Patent Powdery lime composition, method of preparing same and use thereof (EP1896364B1)
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Patent Powdery lime composition, method of preparing same and use thereof (US7744678B2)
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Patent Composition for conditioning sludge (EP2408719B1)
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Patent Lime-based compositions, method for making them and their use in treating water and sludge (EP2408718B1)
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Patent Lime-based compositions, method for making them and their use in treating water and sludge (US8771633B2)
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Patent High-finesse limewater composition (WO2014041068A1)
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Patent High-finesse limewater composition (US10919776B2)
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Patent Handleable calco-magnesian suspension (WO2014064234A9)
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Patent Handleable calco-magnesian suspension (US9511340B2)
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Patent Binder composition for light mortars, concretes and coating with plant or bio-sourced aggregates (EP3077345B1)
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Patent System of plant or bio-sourced materials (EP3077347B1)
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Patent System of plant or bio-sourced materials (US9845265B2)
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Patent Calcium/magnesium compound slurry for bituminous road material (WO2016005591A1)
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Patent Calcium/magnesium compound slurry for bituminous road material (US10899929B2)
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Patent Delayed reactivity quicklime, process for manufacturing same and use thereof (EP3166397B1)
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Patent Process for manufacturing highly porous slaked lime and product thereby obtained (EP3334690B1)
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Patent Method for producing a highly porous fine powdered slaked lime composition, and product obtained therefrom (WO2017220773A1)
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Patent Method for producing a highly porous fine powdered slaked lime composition, and product obtained therefrom (US10934210B2)
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Patent Method for manufacturing briquettes containing a calcium-magnesium compound and an iron-based compound, and briquettes obtained thereby (EP3356296B1)
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Patent Highly porous powdered slaked lime composition (WO2017220775A9)
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Patent Highly porous powdered slaked lime composition (US11185841B2)
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Patent Metallic ores pellets (WO2018100064)
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Patent Method for handling a slag pot or ladle and pyrometallurgical tools (WO2018104447A1)
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Patent Method for handling a slag pot or ladle and pyrometallurgical tools (US20190376746)
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Patent Method for handling a slag pot or ladle and pyrometallurgical tools (WO2018104448A1)
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Patent Method for handling a slag pot or ladle and pyrometallurgical tools (US11091650B2)
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Patent Process for manufacturing a sorbent for a flue gas treatment process, sorbent and use of said sorbent in such flue gas treatment process (WO2018185328A1)
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Patent Process for treating flue gases in CDS flue gas treatment (WO2019048582A1)
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Patent Baked briquettes containing a burnt calcium-magnesium compound and calcium ferrites, and method for manufacturing same (WO2018007607)
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Patent Sorbent composition for an electrostatic precipitator (WO2020011953A1)
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Patent Composition and method for simultaneous water softening and silica removal in boiler feed water (WO2019234624A1)
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Patent Process for manufacturing a slag conditioning agent for steel desulfurization (WO2020127039A1)
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Patent Lime-based sorbent for use in a flue gas treatment installation and process of manufacturing said lime-based sorbent (WO2021058487A1)
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Patent Calcium and/or magnesium additive for membrane fouling control and system and process for membrane fouling control using the additive (WO2021214333)
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Patent Low viscosity milk of lime (WO2022234008)
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Patent Composition suitabe for hot repairing refractories (WO2022269011)
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Patent Process for making a binder composition, process to fill an excavation by treating excavated soil with the binder composition and binder composition (WO2023186991)
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Patent Raw material with low dust and improved reactivity for use in glass manufacturing (WO2024235987)
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Patent Composition for use in a steel making process (WO2025046104)
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Patent Composition for the purification of flue gas (WO2017114822A1)
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Patent Formed body based on magnesium oxide and calcium carbonate & preparation method (WO2020007869)
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Patent Filter material for water treatment (WO2021018942)
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