Lime

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The Lime(stone) cycle
Image from Youtube video: "Limestone Cycle - limestone, quicklime and slaked lime" (Chemistry for All - The Fuse School)

Basics

Lime is an extremely versatile basic material. Limestone, often composed largely of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), can be burned in a kiln. When heated to 900-1000C for several hours, it vents off carbon dioxide (CO2). What remains is mostly calcium oxide (CaO), also known as “quicklime” or “burnt lime”, a highly caustic material that is very “thirsty” for water. When combined with water – hydrated or “slaked” - the quicklime becomes calcium hydroxide or Ca(OH)2, often simply referred to as "lime". This material quickly reabsorbs CO2 and once again becomes calcium carbonate, completing the lime cycle.

Historical uses for hydrated lime:

  • mortar for construction
  • agriculture: to neutralize acidic soils to crop production
  • "whitewash" - to protect wood (such as fences) or fruit trees from fungal infections
  • as a disinfectant: water treatment, dairy, as an antiseptic for livestock
Slaking Lime

Historical uses for quicklime:

  • main industrial uses today: as a steel fluxing agent and in flue gas desulphurization. Other: production of fiberglass, pulp and paper, aluminium, uranium, copper and gold.

Product ecology

Links:

File:SmallScaleLime GATE.pdf