Lime Market

Lime is used extensively in chemical industries as raw material, as well as a processing aid. Lime is required for the production of a broad range of chemicals, which are then widely used in numerous other industries. The chemicals produced from lime include petrochemicals, citric acid, propylene glycol, glycerin, calcium carbide, sodium alkalis, calcium hypochlorite, calcium phosphate, calcium phenate, calcium naphthenate, calcium nitrate, cyanimide, magnesia, among many others.

Purified quicklime is used as a source of calcium in various foodstuffs, such as breads and cereals, as supplements and food additives, and also in the purification of sugar and the manufacture of medicinal antacids.

Lime is used in the paper industry to neutralize the acid used in the production of paper from wood pulp, as well as to whiten the paper. It is also used as a bulking agent, to help reduce the number of trees required to produce paper.

Quicklime and hydrated lime are used in water treatment systems for removal of impurities, pH control and softening. Additionally, it is used to re-mineralize purified water by restoring essential nutrients; and to increase its alkalinity, thus preventing pipe corrosion.

Quicklime products are used by both the glass and the fiberglass manufacturing industries, for purification purposes.

Limestone is used to remove impurities such as silica, sulfur, manganese and phosphorus, as part of the steel manufacturing process. It is used in both electric arc furnaces (EAF) and basic oxygen furnaces (BOF), as well as in the secondary refining of steel and the manufacture of steel products. The limestone bonds with the impurities in iron and forms a slag, which can then be separated, leaving molten iron that is then used to manufacture steel.

Lime has been used in mortar and plaster for generations, thanks to its high plasticity and workability.
Today, quicklime and hydrated lime are used in the construction industry primarily as a stabilizing aggregate or base for roads and foundations. Lime is added to low quality soils to produce a usable base and sub base. It is also used in the production of cement and concrete.
Additionally, hydrated lime is used as a valuable anti-stripping additive for asphalt pavements – it reduces age hardening, helps resist fracture growth and rutting at low temperatures, and improves moisture resistance and durability. Another notable use for in the construction industry is the production of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks.

Lime is used to treat stack gases from industrial plants, power plants, and incinerators used to burn medical and hazardous waste. It serves as a reagent in flue gas desulfurization, and reacts with sulfur dioxide to control air pollution. It thus helps reduce the emissions of hazardous pollutants, including mercury, into the air.
Additionally, pulverized limestone is used as a soil conditioner to neutralize acidic soils.