Uses of Hydrated Lime Powder in Chemical Industry

Uses of Hydrated Lime Powder in Chemical Industry

1. Regenerating Citric Acid

To purify citric acid, lime is essentially used. Initially, the citric acid solution is filtered well to abstract its properties, removing suspended solids from it. To this filtered solution, hydrated lime is added for further purification. As a result, calcium citrate precipitates from the solution and is removed. To this combination, sulfuric acid is further added to regenerate citric acid, as calcium with sulphuric acid forms precipitated calcium sulphur.

Hydrated Lime or Calcium Hydroxide is an inorganic calcium compound available in a dry powdered form. As it is produced using a hydration technique or adding water at manufacturing which is also termed as slaking, hydrated lime is also known as slaked lime powder. Due to the properties that it has, the substance is widely used in the chemical industry for varied purposes. Let us learn them in more detail.

2. Making Calcium Soap for Cattle Feed or Pet Feed

Utilized as a great source of calcium for cows and other animals as a feed supplement, slaked lime is a necessary chemical component to make a special type of soap. Slaked lime is used with natural oils and fats in the saponification process. These components are heated and apllied to a lowering pressure condition. Without subsequent washing or concentration process, calcium easily sopas with the fatty acid. If the fatty acid proportion is high, the soap is preferable to use for animal feed supplements. In case of monogastric animals (simple chambered stomach animals like cats, dogs, etc.), this soap product is improvised using glycerol or emulsifying agent at production. Calcium soaps act as a rich source of calcium for animals and pets, helping them gain weight and improve milk production. This is why feed supplement industry work with hydrated lime suppliers in India to manufacture suitable calcium soaps for cattle and pets that fit each of their physiological need.

3. Production of Ammonia Gas

To make sodium carbonate using ammonia-soda process is used. This process yeilds ammonium chloride. On the other hand, if ammonium sulfate is reacted with sodium chloride solutions, ammonium chloride is obtained. If any of the two processes includes the next step of mixing them with slaked lime, the end-product obtained is ammonia gas. Basically, the mixture of ammonium chloride (prepared using several ways) with slaked lime can be helpful in the production of ammonia gas.

4. Manufacturing Dicalcium Phosphate

Calcium hydroxide or hydrated lime is used in neutralization process with phosphoric acid. To this reaction, dihydrate as a solid precipitates whereas at 60oC observes precipitation of the anhydrous form to finally produce dicalcium phosphate. This end product has popular applications in the tooth paste industry, polishing work and more.

5. Producing Calcium Hypochlorite Bleaches

Hydrated lime or CA(OH)2 when combined with hypochlorus acid and added to an aquaeous medium, using correct proportion, produces calcium hypochlorite bleaches. This aqueous medium must contain calcium hypochlorite and calcium chloride, and the formula must be maintained at a pH value of 10.0 – 10.5. These bleaches are further utilized in swimming pool cleaning and even in the paper & pulp industry.

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