How to test your lime?

For all products sold by Carmeuse, a specification sheet is issued
to inform about chemical properties. The specifications are deter-
mined through several analysis performed in a Carmeuse Central
Laboratory as well as other laboratories to confirm the results.
Two main analyses give indications regarding the concentration of
lime as well as reactivity, the Rapid Sugar Test and the T60 reac-
tivity test.
In order to compare the results from the specification sheet, some
users chose to analyse on their side. However, it is worth noting
that the methodology can greatly impact the results. Therefore, we
invite anyone to follow the following procedure which was derived
from the laboratory process and adapted to field testing.
For certification purposes, a ring test can always be performed with
Carmeuse Central Lab, and third party laboratories.

CaO AVAILABLE – RAPID SUGAR TEST

Generalities Material and Reagent

The sample is hydrated and in excess wa- {{ Precision scale (0.001 g) {{ Pan
ter, solubilised with sugar to form a Calci- {{ Weighting containers {{ Standard HCl solution certified 1.000N
um Saccharate which is then titrated with {{ 500 ml Erlenmeyer with rubber lid {{ Colored indicator phenolphtaleine (Merck) 1%
Hydrochloric acid with phenolphthalein as {{ 50 ml burette (m/V) in EtOH 95% (The changing zone is be-
a colour indicator. {{ Heating plate tween pH=8.2 (colourless) and 9.8 (Red))
{{ Magnetic stirrer and magnetic stir bar {{ White sugar
The result from the titration can either be {{ 100 ml graduated cylinder {{ Demineralised water freshly boiled (CO2 re-
expressed in Cao or Ca(OH)2 available. {{ Buchner and 2 µm filter paper, ash content moved)
<0.01%

Process
The sample to be tested must be representative of the batch. It must also be grinded thinly, homogenised and pass through a 300µm sieve. Afterwards,
the sample must be dried using the pan to remove the water contained in the product.

1 2

FOR HYDRATES 1. Add 3 Tirlemont white sugar cubes (18g) and 40 ml demineralised boiled
a. Weight 1.321g (with a 0.001g precision) water
b. Introduce the product in an Erlenmeyer contain- 2. Add the magnetic bar and put the Erlenmeyer on the magnetic stirrer
ing 150 ml of boiled demineralised water 3. Put the lid on without tightening
4. Stir the solution for 10 minutes (+/- 2min) for the reaction to proceed with
FOR QUICKLIME
5. Take the lid off
a. Weight 1g (0.001g precision)
6. Rinse the lid on top of the Erlenmeyer and the side of the erlen with deminer-
b. Introduce the product in an Erlenmeyer contain-
alised boiled water.
ing 100ml of boiled demineralised water
7. Add 5 drops of coloured indicator and put back on the magnetic stirrer
c. Put the Erlenmeyer on the heating plate and
8. Titrate the solution using the 100 ml graduated cylinder
heat it while rotating
a. Add slowly the acid HCl 1N, 4ml every 15 seconds until a decolouration
d. Start the stopwatch as soon as the liquid boils
appears.
e. After 5 minutes of boiling, rinse the sides with
b. End the titration adding DROP BY DROP HCl until complete decolouration
50 ml of demineralised boiled water using the
c. Do not take into account recolouration taking place after 3 seconds
50 ml burette
d. Note down the HCl volume used.
f. Close the lid and cool the liquid down to room
temperature

Results
FOR HYDRATED LIME Where V = HCl volume used in ml
2.804 = equivalence factor between CaO weight and HCl volume used:
CaO + 2 HCl → CaCl2+ H2 O
% Ca(OH)2 available = V * 2.804
1 mole CaO reacts with 2 moles HCl
HCl used is 1N ie 1mol/litre. For a volume V, mole CaO = V/2 * 0.001
% CaO available = ((V/2)*0.001*56)/mass sample = ((V/2)*0.001*56)/1 = V * 2.804

FOR QUICKLIME Where V = HCl volume used in ml

2.804 = equivalence factor between CaO weight and HCl volume used:
Ca(OH)2 + 2 HCl → CaCl2+ 2 H2 O
% CaO available = V * 2.804
1 mole Ca(OH)2 reacts with 2 moles HCl
HCl used is 1N ie 1mol/litre. For a volume V, mole Ca(OH)2 = V/2 * 0.001
% Ca(OH)2 available = ((V/2)*0.001*74)/mass sample = ((V/2)*0.001*74)/1.321 = V * 2.804

NATURAL SOLUTIONS www.carmeuse.com

 CaO Available
HYDRATES QUICKLIME

Material and Reagent Material and Reagent

-- Precision scale (0.001 g) -- Precision scale (0.001 g)
-- Weighting containers -- Weighting containers
-- 500 ml Erlenmeyer with rubber lid -- 500 ml Erlenmeyer with rubber lid
-- 50 ml burette -- 50 ml burette
-- Heating plate -- Heating plate
-- Magnetic stirrer and magnetic stir bar -- Magnetic stirrer and magnetic stir bar
-- 100 ml graduated cylinder -- 100 ml graduated cylinder
-- Buchner and 2 µm filter paper, ash content <0.01% -- Buchner and 2 µm filter paper, ash content <0.01%
-- Pan -- Pan
-- Standard HCl solution certified 1.000N -- Standard HCl solution certified 1.000N
-- Colored indicator phenolphtaleine (Merck) 1% (m/V) in EtOH 95% -- Colored indicator phenolphtaleine (Merck) 1% (m/V) in EtOH 95%
-- White sugar -- White sugar
-- Demineralised water freshly boiled (CO2 removed) -- Demineralised water freshly boiled (CO2 removed)

Process Process
-- Grind lime to abelow 300µm -- Grind lime to abelow 300µm
-- Weight 1.321 g (with a 0.001 g precision) -- Weight 1 g (0.001 g precision)
-- Introduce the product in an Erlenmeyer containing 150 ml of boiled -- Introduce the product in an Erlenmeyer containing 100 ml of boiled
demineralised water demi neralised water
-- Add 3 Tirlemont white sugar cubes (18 g) and 40 ml demineralised -- Put the Erlenmeyer on the heating plate and heat it while rotating
boiled water -- Start the stopwatch as soon as the liquid boils
-- Add the magnetic bar and put the Erlenmeyer on the magnetic -- After 5 minutes of boiling, rinse the sides with 50 ml of
stirrer demineralised boiled water using the 50 ml burette
-- Put the lid on without tightening -- Close the lid and cool the liquid down to room temperature
-- Stir the solution for 10 minutes (+/- 2 min) for the reaction to -- Add 3 Tirlemont white sugar cubes (18 g) and 40 ml demineralised
proceed with boiled water
-- Take the lid off -- Add the magnetic bar and put the Erlenmeyer on the magnetic
-- Rinse the lid on top of the Erlenmeyer and the side of the erlen stirrer
with demineralised boiled water. -- Put the lid on without tightening
-- Add 5 drops of coloured indicator and put back on the magnetic -- Stir the solution for 10 minutes (+/- 2 min) for the reaction to
stirrer proceed
-- Titrate the solution using the 100 ml graduated cylinder -- Take the lid off
-- Add slowly the acid HCl 1N, 4 ml every 15 seconds until a -- Add 5 drops of coloured indicator and put back on the magnetic
decolouration appears. stirrer
-- End the titration adding DROP BY DROP HCl until complete -- Titrate the solution using the 100 ml graduated cylinder
decolouration -- Add slowly the acid HCl 1N, 4 ml every 15 seconds until a
-- Do not take into account recolouration taking place after 3 seconds decolouration appears.
-- Note down the HCl volume used. -- End the titration adding DROP BY DROP HCl until complete
decolouration
-- Do not take into account recolouration taking place after 3 seconds
-- Note down the HCl volume used.

Result Result
-- HCL Volume used -- HCL Volume used
-- % CaO available = Volume * 2.804 -- % CaO available = Volume * 2.804

NATURAL SOLUTIONS www.carmeuse.com