CALCINATION OF LIMESTONE

METE 159: PYROMETALLURGICAL LABORATORY

ABSTRACT
The decomposition of calcium carbonate to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide gas was done by calcining it
at 900 C. Sample preparation was carried out by screening the limestone at different numbers of mesh namely
at -20 Mesh, -40 mesh, -50 mesh, -120 mesh and -200 mesh. 2 trials were prepared for each mesh weighing 10
grams per sample. The effect of particle size in calcining was analyzed and the results are for 20 mesh the
average weight loss is 1.78 grams, in 40 mesh the average weight loss is 1.615 grams, in 50 mesh being 1.745
grams, in 120 mesh being 1.88 grams and finally in 200 mesh the average weight loss is 1.97 grams. As the data
suggests, an increase in weight loss is associated with finer particle size.

INTRODUCTION
Calcination is derived from the Latin word
calcinare which means to burn lime in which the
decomposition of calcium carbonate to calcium
oxide and carbon dioxide takes place i.e. a thermal
treatment to bring about a thermal decomposition.
The temperature applied on the heating of the solid
is below its melting point to produce a condition of
thermal decomposition or phase transition other
than melting or fusing. In the case of limestone
calcination, the chemical process is:
CaCO3

1 kilogram of limestone was washed with distilled

water to remove any impurities present. It was then
sun dried to remove the moisture in the limestone.
It was then ground and screened at different mesh
namely -20 mesh, -40 mesh, -50 mesh, -120 mesh
and -200 mesh. 2 trials were then prepared each
weighing 10 grams of limestone. Calcining was
then commenced at 900 .
Preparation of samples
Weighing 10 grams of sample
per trial

CaO + CO2 (g)

The reaction presented above is highly endothermic

which requires 3.16 GJ of heat input to produce 1
tonne of lime and the calcination begins at a
temperature of 780 C.

Calcining at 900
Recording the final weight

Flowsheet 1. This figure shows the process in

calcining.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This experiment aims to familiarize students the
thermal decomposition of limestone and study the
effects of temperature in calcining.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study in limestone and its decomposition
process is of importance due to its wide usage.
Lime can be used in the construction industry as
well as in cement making. Especially in metallurgy,
calcium carbonate is used for slag formation and
mainly in steel manufacture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials and Equipment:
The materials and equipment used in the
experiment were mortar and pestle, screen,
crucible, electrical balance, limestone and furnace.
Procedure:

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The data gathered is summarized in table 1 where
the weight before and after calcining is presented.
Wt. of
crucible
(grams)

Wt. of
sample
(grams)

Wt.
after
firing

Wt.
loss
(grams)

(grams)

-20
mes
h
-40
mes
h
-50
mes
h
-120
mes
h
-200
mes

Trial 1
Trial 2

23.62
25.93

10.00
10.00

31.92
34.07

1.70
1.86

Trial 1
Trial 2

22.63
22.12

10.00
10.00

31.02
30.50

1.61
1.62

Trial 1
Trial 2

24.43
24.09

10.01
10.01

32.78
32.27

1.66
1.83

Trial 1
Trial 2

19.00
25.31

10.03
10.08

27.07
33.59

1.96
1.80

Trial 1
Trial 2

24.05
27.74

10.00
10.00

32.08
35.77

1.97
1.97

Calcination of limestone. Submitted to, Instructor. Page 1 of 2

h
Table 1. Summary of data
As the limestone is heated strongly at 900 ,
thermal decomposition takes place wherein it
breaks down to form calcium oxide and carbon
dioxide is released. As presented in the data it can
be seen that the maximum calcination rate is
achieved when CaCO3 particle size is finer.
The average weight loss of samples per mesh is
calculated. For -20 mesh the average weight loss is
1.78 grams, in -40 mesh the average weight loss is
1.615 grams, in -50 mesh being 1.745 grams, in
-120 mesh being 1.88 grams and finally in -200
mesh the average weight loss is 1.97 grams.
A graph is shown in Figure 1 to further visualize
the trend for varying the particle size of limestone.
It should be noted that the time of calcining has
been assumed to be constant since all samples were
calcined at the same time and was retrieved from
the furnace simultaneously.

Plotting the average weight of each samples with

different mesh, an increasing trend can be observed
that particle size has an effect in the decomposition
of limestone. The weight remained in the sample
can be assumed to be CaO but not purely since
other impurities can account to the remaining
weight of the sample.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

From the activity, it can be seen that
particle size affects the formation of CaO with
coarser particles forming more CaO but it is not
entirely true since the maximum calcination rate is
not achieved when coarser particles are calcined.
More data could have been analyzed if time was
varied with samples so as to see if an optimum time
can be determined for maximum formation of CaO.
Also, CO2 partial pressure could have been
explored regarding if it affects the decomposition
process.

REFERENCES

Decomposition of CaCO3

Calcium Carbonate (2015). Retrieved

from

2.5

HTTP://WWW.ESSENTIALCHEMICALINDUSTRY.ORG/C
HEMICALS/CALCIUM-CARBONATE.HTML

1.97
1.88
21.78
1.75
1.62

Limestone
(2015).
Retrieved
from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/
aqa_pre_2011/rocks/limestonerev1.shtml

1.5

Average weight loss

1
0.5
0

100 200 300

Thermal decomposition of calcium

carbide
(2016).
Retrieved
from
http://www.rsc.org/learnchemistry/resource/res00000704/thermaldecomposition-of-calcium-carbonate?
cmpid=CMP00005970

Mesh
Figure 1. Graph for the decomposition of CaCO3

Calcination of limestone. Submitted to, Instructor. Page 2 of 2