The term “hydrated lime” is widely used to describe a powdered calcium hydroxide product made by reacting quicklime with a controlled excess of water. The product is essentially dry and generally contains less than 1% of un-reacted water. The process is called “hydration” and should be differentiated from “slaking” which involves the production of a dispersion of calcium hydroxide in water. However, the expression “slaked lime” is used as a generic term for hydrated lime, milk of lime and lime putty. An estimated 10 to 15% of the quicklime produced in developed countries is converted in to hydrated lime and the percentage may be higher in countries which do not have a large steel industry. Because hydrating plants are relatively complex and can be fed with surplus grades of quicklime, there are relatively few of them and they are normally located at a lime works. While the chemical reactions involved in the formation of hydrated lime are simple, the physical chemistry is complex.
Lime is second to petroleum as the world's most widely used chemicals. It is used for coagulation, hydroxylation and absorption. Lime is a major component of fertilizer and soil conditioner in agriculture. In the preparation of insecticides, medicines and livestock feeds, lime is used. In the chemical industries, leather industries use lime extensively for liming. Other industries that use lime include cement, soap, steel and paper industries.
The global hydrated lime market size will grow by 31.24 MMT during 2018-2022. In terms of value, the global lime market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of ~ 6% and reach a value of US$ ~65.4 Bn by 2027.
Hydrated Lime is a caustic solid substance, white when pure and is obtained by calcining limestone and others forms of calcium carbonates.
Hydrated lime has become one of the most important industrial minerals because of its chemical and physical properties, as well as its commercial importance and the simplicity in its production. They are agriculture, water treatment, building, tannery, food processing, breweries, and soft drink, paint and chemical industries.
On the basis of geography, the global hydrated lime market can be segmented into nine key regions, namely, South East Asia Pacific, Latin America, Western Europe, Middle East & Africa, China, Japan, Eastern Europe, and India. With growing investments in the Latin America region in the construction sector, the market in the region is projected to witness significant traction. Further, an increase of coal mining and the production of coal in the Asian market are expected to subsequently drive the demand for hydrated lime at the regional level. Increasing demand for pesticides from the South East Asia Pacific region, the hydrated lime market is estimated to grow with a healthy growth rate. Also, China and India are major consumers of hydrated lime. In term of steel production, Europe dominates the market (the region has 168.7 million metric tons production of steel in 2017), owing to that, the demand for hydrated lime in Europe will increase in next few years. Further, the hydrated lime market in developed economies like North America estimated to grow with a healthy growth rate during the forecast period.
Few major players are as under
Shandong Zhongxin Calcium Industry Co., Ltd.,
Mississippi Lime Company,
Pete Lien & Sons, Inc.,
Linwood Mining & Minerals Corp.,
Lhoist, Cheney Lime & Cement Company,
United States Lime & Minerals Inc.