Description

• Calcium hydroxide (Hydrated lime) is traditionally called slaked lime, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca(OH)2.
• It is a colourless crystal or white powder and is obtained when calcium oxide (lime or quicklime) is mixed, or ‘slaked’ with water.
• Calcium hydroxide is used in many applications, including food preparation.
• One significant application of calcium hydroxide is as a flocculant, in water and sewage treatment.
• It is also used in fresh water treatment for raising the pH of the water so pipes will not corrode where the base water is acidic; hydrated lime is self-regulating and does not raise the pH too much.

Hydrated lime has many other applications:

• As an ingredient in whitewash, mortar, and plaster In road construction, to improve the quality of excessively plastic subgrade soils.
• As a long-lasting fungicide In the petroleum refining industry for the manufacture of additives to oils.
• In the chemical industry for manufacture of calcium stearate.
• For preparation of dry mixes for painting and decorating.
• In manufacturing mixes for pesticides, and as a natural insecticide.