Lime is one of the most widely used and cheapest alkalizing agents employed worldwide. Limestone is one of the most basic raw materials employed in the steel industry and is used both in iron making and steel making processes. Lime (CaO) is one of the oldest chemicals known to man and the process of lime production is one of the oldest chemical industries.
Calcium oxide (CaO) is lime, which is produced through calcination of limestone including calcined limestone, ground limestone and hydrated limestone. Production of lime is a complex industrial process and delivers two product forms quicklime and hydrated lime.
Lime is an important element in civil engineering and construction materials. In chemical industry, lime is used as chemical reagent in the production of various chemicals. It is extensively used in the metallurgical industry and in numerous other downstream manufacturing industries including glass, and paper and pulp among others. Increase in usage of lime in the production of precipitated calcium carbonate is expected to drive the lime market during the forecast period. According to the research report, the global lime market was valued at US$44.84 bn in 2015 and is expected to be worth US$76.48 bn by the end of 2024. During the forecast period of 2016 and 2024, the global market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 6.2%.
Calcined Lime is widely used by almost every Chemical and Process Industry including Fertilizers, Food Nutrients, Chemical, Paper & Pulp, Metallurgical, Oil Refinery, etc. in one or other form. Besides this, it is also used in waste water treatment operations.