Burnt lime

About Burnt lime

Burnt lime also known as quicklime or calcium oxide CaO is produced by heating limestone calcium carbonate CaCO in a kiln to drive off carbon dioxide CO The content of burnt lime primarily consists of

1 Calcium Oxide CaO This is the main component and it can constitute about 9095 or more of the burnt limes weight The exact percentage can vary depending on the purity of the limestone used and the efficiency of the burning process

2 Impurities Depending on the source of the limestone and the processing method burnt lime might contain trace amounts of other compounds such as
Calcium Hydroxide CaOH Sometimes present if the burnt lime absorbs moisture from the air
Magnesium Oxide MgO If the limestone contains magnesium carbonate MgCO this will also be present in the burnt lime
Silica SiO Alumina AlO and Iron Oxide FeO These are common impurities found in varying amounts depending on the geological source of the limestone

The purity and composition of burnt lime are critical in industrial applications such as in steelmaking water treatment and construction