Overview
Calcium oxide, commonly referred to as quicklime in industrial contexts, is a fundamental chemical compound with extensive applications across multiple industries. Produced through the thermal decomposition of limestone (calcium carbonate) at temperatures above 825°C, this process drives off carbon dioxide to yield pure calcium oxide. The industrial production typically occurs in rotary kilns, producing material with purity levels ranging from 90% to 98% depending on the source material and processing conditions. As one of the oldest known industrial chemicals, calcium oxide has been used since ancient times for mortar production and soil treatment. Modern applications have expanded its use to become a critical component in steel manufacturing, environmental remediation, and chemical synthesis. Its importance in industrial chemistry stems from its strong basicity and reactivity, particularly with water and acids.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Calcium oxide presents as a white to grayish-white crystalline solid with a cubic crystal structure at room temperature. It has an exceptionally high melting point of 2,572°C, making it valuable for high-temperature applications. The material is hygroscopic, readily absorbing moisture from the air, which leads to the formation of calcium hydroxide through an exothermic reaction that generates significant heat (approximately 1.15 kJ per gram of CaO). Chemically, calcium oxide is a strong base that reacts vigorously with acids to form salts. It demonstrates excellent thermal stability and acts as a flux in metallurgical processes by lowering the melting point of silica impurities. The compound's refractive index of 1.83 and Mohs hardness of 3.5 contribute to its optical and abrasive applications. Industrial grades vary in particle size distribution from fine powders to pebble-sized granules, affecting reactivity and handling characteristics.
Main Applications
In steel production, calcium oxide serves as a flux to remove impurities (primarily silica and phosphorus) by forming slag. The basic oxygen steelmaking process consumes large quantities of high-purity quicklime, typically 50-100 kg per ton of steel produced. The construction industry utilizes approximately 60% of global calcium oxide output, primarily in cement manufacturing where it reacts with silica and alumina to form calcium silicates and aluminates. Environmental applications include flue gas desulfurization in power plants, where it neutralizes sulfur oxides, and water treatment for pH adjustment and heavy metal removal. Chemical manufacturing employs calcium oxide as a precursor for calcium compounds, a drying agent, and in the production of glass, paper, and sugar. Emerging uses include soil stabilization, hazardous waste treatment, and as a chemical heat storage medium due to its reversible reaction with carbon dioxide.
Safety and Storage
Calcium oxide requires careful handling due to its corrosive nature and exothermic reaction with moisture. Contact with skin or eyes can cause severe burns, necessitating the use of protective equipment including gloves, goggles, and dust masks. Work areas should have emergency showers and eye wash stations when handling bulk quantities. The heat generated during slaking (reaction with water) can ignite combustible materials if not properly controlled. Storage must prevent moisture exposure using airtight containers or silos with desiccants. Bulk storage in humid environments requires climate control to prevent caking and reduced reactivity. Calcium oxide should be kept separate from acids and organic materials. Firefighting for calcium oxide-related incidents requires dry chemical extinguishers—water application can intensify heat generation and spread the material. Spills should be contained and cleaned with dry methods before neutralization with weak acid.
B2B Procurement Guide
Industrial buyers should specify purity requirements based on application—steelmaking typically demands 94-97% CaO content while construction applications may tolerate 90-92%. Particle size distribution affects reactivity; finer grades (80-100 mesh) suit chemical processes while coarser fractions (10-50 mm) work better for slow-release applications. Packaging options range from 25 kg moisture-proof bags to bulk tanker trucks for large-scale consumers. Quality indicators include available lime index (AVI), reactivity test results, and residual magnesium oxide content. Suppliers should provide material safety data sheets (MSDS) and certificates of analysis. Consider regional production to minimize transportation costs, as calcium oxide is produced globally. For reference, annual contract pricing typically ranges from $100-$300 per metric ton depending on purity, quantity, and delivery terms. Just-in-time delivery may be preferable to extended storage for maintaining product reactivity.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：[]
- 主营：耐火浇注料、酸性炉衬材料、高效除渣剂、绿泥白泥修补料、铝矾土高铝细粉、石墨化增碳剂、透热炉打结料、线圈胶泥、中性炉衬材料、导电粉、中间包可塑料、打炉料、干振料、刚玉炉衬料、硅藻土、电气石托玛琳粉、膨润土、重晶石硫酸钡粉、蛭石、高岭土、橡胶颗粒粉、石英沙石英粉、凹凸棒土、重质轻质碳酸钙、雨花石炉料
- 主营：高岭土、玻璃鳞片、轻钙、空心玻璃微珠、氢氧化铝、S95矿粉
- 主营：腻子粉、碳酸钙、填充剂、生石灰、石灰粉、石灰块、石灰石、消石灰、白石灰、熟石灰、万兴石灰、化工石灰、修路石灰、干燥剂、氧化钙、吸水剂、粘合剂、脱色剂、灰钙粉、建材建筑
- 主营：乙二醇、缝纫机油、针织机油、白油、一类基础油、工业润滑油、防冻液
- 主营：抗氧剂BHT、抗氧剂T501、黄丹粉、蛋白胨、氧化铅、红丹粉、四氧化三铅、硫酸钙晶须、次氯酸钠、加益粉、黄血盐钾、亚铁氰化钠、黄血盐钠、螯合铁、蒸馏水、石脑油、碳五、三甲苯、纤维素、乙酸乙酯、异丙醇、偏硅酸钠、甲醇、水杨酸
- 主营：保温材料、工业造纸用轻钙、石英砂、白云石粉、雪花白、轻钙重钙、贝壳粉、金刚砂、耐磨地坪材料、高岭土、碳酸钙、滑石粉、硅藻土、彩砂、玻璃鳞片、硅酸铝纤维、膨润土、橡胶粉、珍珠岩、竹炭、沸石粉、氧化钙颗粒
- 主营：金刚砂、氧化钙、轻钙粉、生石灰、重钙粉、轻质碳酸钙、重钙碳酸钙、鹅卵石滤料、造景火山石、重质碳酸钙、彩色雨花石、河沙建筑河沙、水处理鹅卵石
- 主营：滑石粉、金云母、蛭石片、白云母、鹅卵石、石英砂、杨木粉、胶粘石、膨润土、蛭石粉、高铝粉、水洗沙、萤石粉、木粉60目、30目漂珠、硅藻土、电气石、孵化蛭石、生物质颗粒、贝壳彩片、氧化铁颜料、生铁粉、高岭土、沸石、漂珠
- 主营：硫酸亚铁、聚丙烯酰胺、聚合氯化铝、石灰、漂白粉、活性炭、纯碱、片碱、次氯酸钠、醋酸钠、硫酸铝、焦亚硫酸钠、消泡剂、水玻璃、柠檬酸、葡萄糖
- 主营：磁粉、碳酸钙、沸石粉、活性白土、介质粉、凹凸棒土、硅藻土、红土黄土、膨润土、粉煤灰、石英砂、膨润土猫砂、矿渣粉、硅灰硅微粉、萤石粉、高岭土、珍珠岩粉、陶土、铁砂、贝壳粉、远红外粉、煤粉、花生饼、木粉
- 主营：灰钙粉、氧化钙、吸收剂、石灰粉、超白活性轻质碳酸、超白轻质碳酸钙、消解熟石灰、块状生石灰原料、脱硫用生石灰、水处理熟石灰粉、氢氧化鑫安、活性轻质碳酸钙、纳米轻质碳酸钙、氢氧化钙颗粒、氧化钙颗粒、优质氢氧化钙、优质氧化钙、优质氢氧化钙颗粒、优质氧化钙颗粒、高纯氧化钙粉末、二氧化碳吸附剂、工业氢氧化钙粉、氢氧化钙颗粒料、高活性氧化钙、高活性氢氧化钙
- 主营：氧化钙、氢氧化钙、氧化钙块料、石灰石、高纯度熟石灰、细粉熟石灰、低杂质熟石灰、轻质熟石灰、散装熟石灰、食品级熟石灰、土壤改良熟石灰、化工熟石灰、高白度氢氧化钙、氧化钙粉料、氧化钙颗粒、200目氢氧化钙、400目氢氧化钙、超细氢氧化钙、块状氢氧化钙、无尘氢氧化钙、工业级氢氧化钙、烟气脱硫氢氧化钙、高纯度氢氧化钙、废水处理氢氧化钙、块料氧化钙
- 主营：泡花碱、工业淀粉、矿源黄腐酸钾、工业葡萄糖、工业柠檬酸、固化剂、氨基酸原粉、工业红糖、大苏打
- 主营：熟石灰、甲基丙烯酸、苯乙烯、乙醇
- 主营：轻质碳酸钠、速溶硅酸钠、五水偏硅酸钠、超白超细、过硫酸氢钾、十二烷基苯磺酸钠、氧化钙、大苏打、离子钙