Quicklime, or calcium oxide, is produced by heating limestone and has been used for centuries in a range of applications. Its manufacturing process is one of the oldest chemical reactions known to man. Quicklime requires careful handling and can be dangerous, but it is useful for things like mortar and wastewater treatment.
Quicklime, more formally known as calcium oxide (CaO), is a caustic alkaline substance that is produced by heating limestone in specially designed kilns. There is a huge range of uses for this substance, ranging from mortar to flux, and it has been used by humans for centuries. Many companies produce and sell it, sometimes with specific chemical impurities that make it particularly suitable for certain applications.
Humans have known about the steps required to create quicklime for a long time, and chemists believe that its generation may be one of the oldest chemical reactions known to man. People have certainly used the material all over the world for thousands of years; in Mesoamerica, for example, people treated corn with it in a process known as nixtamalization, while in India it was used in a blend designed to waterproof boats. Today quicklime is used in many industrial processes, some of which developed hundreds of years ago.
Quicklime is also known as burnt lime, a reference to its manufacturing process, or simply lime. To make it, limestone (CaCO3) is crushed and shoveled into a kiln, which is heated to very high temperatures. High temperatures release carbon dioxide (CO2) from the stone, transforming it into calcium oxide. After it has cooled, the compound can be ground into a powder and packaged for sale.
A number of factors can affect the quality of the resulting material, from the temperature of the kilns to natural impurities in the stone. Since limescale is a natural product, it can sometimes be difficult to control these impurities; as a result, companies that produce quicklime tend to regularly test their product to ensure it is of high quality. Even specialized kilns are carefully monitored to ensure that the limestone heats up and cools down at an adequate rate.
Quicklime requires careful handling. As it sits, it can acquire carbon dioxide from the air, returning to its original form. This means it needs to be used quickly, especially once it has been mixed with water in a process known as slaking. Lime is also extremely caustic; it can burn the skin and cause other damage. When used responsibly, it can be immensely useful for things like mixing strong mortar, acting as a flux in smelting, and treating wastewater.
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