How is quicklime produced
Quicklime, mainly composed of calcium oxide (CaO), has a wide range of applications in various fields such as construction, chemical engineering, metallurgy, etc. Its production is mainly achieved through high-temperature calcination of limestone.
The first step in producing quicklime is beneficiation and crushing. Select limestone with pure texture and high content of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), crush it into blocks of appropriate size, generally with a diameter of 50-150 millimeters, which can ensure uniform heating during calcination and facilitate subsequent process operations.
Next is the calcination process, which is the core step in the production of quicklime. Load the crushed limestone into a lime kiln, introduce air from the bottom of the kiln, and add fuel (such as coal) to the top or side of the kiln for ignition and calcination. As the temperature increases, the calcium carbonate in limestone undergoes a decomposition reaction: CaCO3 decomposes into CaO (quicklime) and CO ₂ (carbon dioxide) at high temperatures. The calcination temperature is usually controlled at 900-1200 ℃ and needs to be maintained for sufficient time to ensure the complete decomposition of calcium carbonate.
After calcination, the generated quicklime is discharged from the bottom of the kiln. At this time, the temperature of quicklime is extremely high and needs to be cooled to prevent spontaneous combustion and facilitate storage and transportation. Through this series of processes, limestone is successfully transformed into quicklime, embarking on its "mission journey" in various fields.
