Calcium carbonate has many uses, as it is a commonly used material for its hardness, and it is also used for its purity. When mixed with water, it makes a great cleaning agent. Here are some of the common uses of calcium carbonate in medicines, cosmetics, food & beverages, animal feed, and many other fields.
Used a Filler and Coating Pigment
Calcium carbonate is the most extensively used mineral filler and coating pigment in the paper, plastics, paints, and coatings industries. It can also be found in inorganic building materials such as cement, wall plaster, and wallboard. The advantages of using calcium carbonate as a filler material are its low cost, compatibility with polymer systems, and ease of use. It is important to remember that calcium carbonate is hygroscopic therefore you can use proper surface treatments such as stearic acid and maleated polybutadiene to get the perfect filler and coating pigment. Therefore choosing to use calcium carbonate as a coating and filler pigment is the best decision due to its purity and you are guaranteed to produce quality materials.
Dietary Supplement
Calcium carbonate is utilized as a dietary supplement. It is also used as an antacid to soothe indigestion, acid reflux, and heartburn. Some individuals exploit calcium carbonate for indications of milk acidic corrosive imbalance, ringing in the ears, waterfalls, osteoporosis, weak bones, and a familial disorder that influences the kidneys and causes over the top uric corrosive in the blood or urine.
Water Treatment
Calcium carbonate is used in water treatment to neutralize acidic water hardness caused by high levels of hydrogen carbonate ions. This acid neutralization is crucial for safe drinking water provided by water companies, particularly in areas with a naturally acidic pH or where local geology has led to low pH runoff from coal or metal mining activities. Water treatment also increases the pH of acidic waste streams produced by tanneries, paper mills, and other industrial processes.
Used in Agriculture
Calcium carbonate uses in agriculture are vast and varied. For example, calcium carbonate is used in animal feed to supplement mineral deficiencies. It is also widely used as an acidity regulator when extracting juice from fruits such as oranges and grapefruits. Additionally, it gives the wine a sparkling appearance with minimal effect on flavor.
Used in Construction
Calcium carbonate has many applications in the construction industry. One of its most important uses is as an aggregate in concrete and mortar. It is also used in cement, asphalt, and concrete, especially for road surfacing. Calcium carbonate provides excellent adhesion, water resistance, and abrasion resistance for all construction applications.
Asphalt: The calcium carbonate in limestone rock acts as an aggregate to give asphalt a bulk volume. The filler material reduces the cost of asphalt, improves its durability, and allows it to be recycled more easily.
Cement: Calcium carbonate is used to make Portland cement, one of the concrete components. Ground limestone produces a whiter cement than limestone that has not been ground.
Concrete: Ground calcium carbonate can act as a filler material because of its low cost and high brightness. It can also improve some properties of the finished product. For example, when added to concrete mixes, it reduces shrinkage while increasing tensile and compressive strength.
Mortar: Calcium carbonate can be used as a mortar to render walls non-combustible and reduce shrinkage in plaster.
Calcium Carbonate can be used to fight acid rain in water systems
Calcium carbonate has been used to combat acid rain. Acid rain results from an industrial process called acid deposition, resulting from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere. These compounds react with water in the atmosphere to form sulfur and nitric acids, falling back to earth as acidic precipitation. Acid deposition causes lakes and rivers to become extremely acidic, killing fish and other organisms that can’t survive in such a harsh environment. Calcium carbonate can help neutralize these acids once they are deposited in a river or lake by increasing the pH of the water.
A Source of Calcium
Calcium carbonate is added to many supplements because it provides a source of calcium that humans can easily digest. The digestive tract does not absorb whole calcium carbonate particles well. Still, when mixed with stomach acid, it breaks down into smaller particles that are more easily absorbed by the intestines.
Bottom Line
Calcium carbonate is used in various applications, from building labs and restoration work to laying down railroad ties or making common household products like toothpaste. Its chemical properties make it an excellent candidate for all sorts of projects. Ensure that you don’t needlessly waste the substance if you can avoid it—it isn’t cheap! Remember, there are plenty of uses for calcium carbonate, so don’t throw it away so easily!