QUICKLIME

Quicklime is an alternate name for the chemical compound known as calcium oxide. This compound is represented by the chemical formula CaO and is also known as burnt lime. Under standard conditions for temperature and pressure, quicklime is known to exist as a crystalline solid that is white in colour. It is important to note that quicklime is known to be fairly caustic and alkaline under standard conditions. The term ‘lime’ is usually used to denote chemical compounds that contain the element calcium. Quicklime is known to be quite inexpensive and abundant. It can also be noted that quicklime (along with another one of its derivatives, calcium hydroxide) is a very important commodity chemical.

USE:

Quicklime is used in a wide variety of applications, including the manufacture of iron and steel, the manufacture of paper and pulp, the treatment of water and flue gases and the mining industry.

In the basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) process, quicklime is known to have very crucial applications. Quicklime and hydrated lime can increase the load-carrying ability of soils containing clay to a considerable extent. They accomplish this by participating in chemical reactions with finely divided alumina and silica in order to create calcium silicates and aluminates, which are known to have cementing properties. For use as an acidity regulator, a flour treatment agent, and as a leavener, this compound is classified as an FAO food additive.

A combination of calcium oxide and phenolphthalein is used in water detection pastes. The quicklime generally reacts with the water to form calcium hydroxide, should this paste come into contact with water in a fuel storage tank. Calcium hydroxide has a sufficiently high pH to turn a vibrant purplish-pink colour of the phenolphthalein, thereby signalling the presence of water.