Download Report IHS CEH Report : Lime and Limestone (Chemical Economics Handbook 2019)
PDF by S&P Global Commodity Insights; IHS Markit
Information
Format: PDF Language: English Pages: 152 Publisher: S&P Global Commodity Insights; IHS Markit Publitshion date: 2019 ISBN: 135769
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Description
The major use for lime is in metallurgy, primarily in steel production as a flux to remove phosphorus, sulfur, silica, and manganese from the molten steel. Lime is also used in aluminum and magnesium metal production and in the processing of other metal ores (copper, gold, nickel, zinc, cobalt, and lead). Soil stabilization is the primary use for lime in construction; other construction markets include asphalt, mason's lime used in mortars and concrete, and finishing lime for plasters. Environmental uses, including flue gas desulfurization, potable water treatment, and wastewater treatment, are expected to be some of the fastest-growing applications through the forecast period. Quicklime is used primarily in metallurgy (steel) and flue gas desulfurization, while hydrated lime (also known as slaked lime) is used in construction (soil stabilization) and water treatment. Production of lime has been relatively stable in the last four years, as many markets follow GDP growth and overall growth in China has slowed. Even so, China continues to lead the production and consumption of lime, and will remain the fastest-growing region during the forecast period.
Limestone is decarbonated, or calcined in a furnace to produce calcium oxide (CaO), which is widely known as lime. In practice, approximately 2 units of limestone are required to produce one unit of lime. In 2018, an estimated 700 million metric tons of limestone were calcined to produce about 350 million metric tons of lime. Limestone itself is extracted from quarries and is crushed or ground for direct use in cement manufacture, construction materials (concrete, aggregate, railroad ballast), flue gas desulfurization (FGD), production of fillers such as ground and fine-ground calcium carbonate (GCC and FGCC), metallurgy, and many other chemical and industrial applications.
Lime is mainly produced in the form of quicklime (CaO), but directly after calcination can be hydrated, or slaked to produce hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide). Dolomite, a mineral containing both calcium oxide and magnesium oxide can also be calcined to produce dolomitic lime, or dead-burned lime, which is mainly used in steel production.
In 2018, about 40% of the world's lime produced was used in metallurgical applications. The main use was in steel making, as a flux in purifying steel in both basic oxygen furnaces and electric arc furnaces. Lime removes phosphorus, sulfur, silica, and manganese from the molten steel; one ton of steel requires between 40 and 85 kilograms of lime. Lime is also used in aluminum and magnesium metal production and in the processing of other metal ores (copper, gold, nickel, zinc, cobalt, and lead). Growth in this sector is forecast at 3.2% per year between 2018 and 2023.
Chemical and industrial applications consumed 30% of the total lime globally in 2018. This includes many varied applications, including some chemical processes, such as production of synthetic soda ash using the Solvay process and production of calcium carbide from coke. Lime is also used to make precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), often at a satellite plant based at a pulp and paper mill; the PCC is used in the pulping process and additional lime is used in wastewater treatment. Sugar refining, glass manufacture, leather production, and agriculture are other industrial applications that require lime. Consumption of lime in the chemical and industrial sector is forecast to grow at about 2.3% per year over the next five years.
The third-largest market for lime is in construction, accounting for about 23% of total global lime consumption in 2018. These markets include soil stabilization, as well as use in asphalt, for mason's lime used in mortars and concrete, and finishing lime for plasters. Construction markets are still recovering from the downturn in 2008–09 and the more recent slowdown in China. Overall consumption of lime in construction applications is expected to increase at less than 1% per year.
Lime is used on many environmental applications for pollution control, including flue gas desulfurization (FGD), drinking water and wastewater treatment, and hazardous waste remediation. These applications accounted for about 6% of total lime consumption in 2018 and are expected to increase at about 1.2% per year in the forecast period.
China dominates world production and consumption of lime, with 68% of global lime produced in China in 2018. There are many smaller lime producing companies in China, with only eight with capacities of 400,000 metric tons per year or more. In Europe and North America, production is dominated by the larger companies—Lhoist, Carmeuse, Graymont, and the Fels Group. There is relatively very little trade worldwide, primarily because lime is readily available in all parts of the world, and transportation costs can be significant. Overall consumption of lime is forecast to grow at 2.2% per year over the next five years.
$49
Delivery time: Maximum 24 hours