Limestone, calcite and quicklime_industrial additives

Limestone, calcite and quicklime limestone

The main component of limestone is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Lime and limestone are raw materials widely used in building materials and industry. Limestone (see Figure 1) can be directly processed into stone and fired into quicklime. Calcium carbonate is a compound that is common on Earth and can be found in rocks. The main component of animal back shells and snail shells. It exists in nature as two minerals: calcite and aragonite.

Limestone, calcite and quicklime calcite

Calcite is a calcium carbonate mineral, and it is the most common natural calcium carbonate. Therefore, calcite is a widely distributed mineral. Calcite crystals have various shapes, and their aggregates can be clusters of crystals, or they can be granular, massive, fibrous, stalactite-like, soil-like, etc. Knocking calcite can yield many square fragments, hence the name calcite.

Calcite is a calcium carbonate mineral, and it is the most common natural calcium carbonate. Therefore, calcite is a widely distributed mineral. Calcite crystals have various shapes, and their aggregates can be clusters of crystals, or they can be granular, massive, fibrous, stalactite-like, soil-like, etc. Many square cyanopyridine fragments can be obtained by knocking calcite, hence the name calcite.

Limestone, calcite and quicklime lime

Lime is an air-hardening inorganic cementitious material with calcium oxide as the main component. Lime is made from products with high calcium carbonate content such as limestone, dolomite, chalk, and shells, which are calcined at 900 to 1100°C. Lime is the earliest cementing material used by humans. Lime is widely used in civil engineering and can also be used in medicine in our country. The main component of quicklime is CaO, which is generally in the form of lumps, white when pure, and light gray or light yellow when it contains impurities. Quicklime absorbs moisture or adds water to become hydrated lime. Hydrated lime is also called hydrated lime. Its main component is Ca(OH)2. Hydrated lime is prepared into lime slurry, lime paste, lime mortar, etc., which are used as coating materials and brick adhesives.

Differences in uses of limestone, calcite and quicklime

Lime and limestone are widely used as building materials and are important raw materials for many industries. Limestone can be directly processed into stone and fired into quicklime. Lime includes quicklime and hydrated lime.

Cement is made by mixing limestone and clay and calcining it at high temperature. Glass is made by mixing limestone, quartz sand, soda ash, etc. and melting it at high temperature. Limestone is used as a flux in iron making to remove gangue. Quicklime is used as slagging material in steelmaking to remove harmful impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus.

Limestone is burned and processed to produce relatively pure powdered calcium carbonate, which is used as filler in rubber, plastics, paper, toothpaste, cosmetics, etc. Soda lime, made from lime and caustic soda, is used as an absorbent for carbon dioxide.

Quick lime is used as a desiccant and disinfectant. In agriculture, quicklime is used to prepare lime-sulfur mixture, Bordeaux mixture and other synthetic mica pesticides. Applying hydrated lime to the soil can neutralize the acidity of the soil, improve the soil structure, and supply the calcium needed by plants. Brushing the tree trunks with lime slurry will protect the trees.

In summary, limestone can be directly processed into stone and fired into quicklime. Calcite is a type of limestone.