Lime is an important chemical for regulating various processes in the mining industry. Quicklime and slaked lime as well as ground limestone are used both in concentration plants and for metal extraction.
Concentration plants often use lime milk made of quicklime or slaked lime for regulating pH values. Keeping pH values at a required level ensures a high value yield from the mine.
Lime products are also needed for treating unusable or superfluous process water, flood or rainwater before returning them to nature. Lime raises the pH value, thus precipitating metals diluted in the water into tailing areas. Limestone is often used in the construction of tailing areas and as a part of the cap after closing the mine.
Our versatile range of products along with our expertise is present throughout the process, from below ground through to refining.
Limestone is used in various metal production applications for example steel making, copper production and metal recycling. Lime can be delivered as limestone, quicklime or slaked lime, depending on application.
Unit operations in metal production are blast furnace, electrical arc furnace, steel converter process and ladle metallurgy. The purpose of lime, as quicklime, is to form a high basicity slag, in order to remove impurities from the melt into the slag phase. Impurities can be, for example, sulphur, phosphorous and other unwanted elements.
Lime is also utilized for protecting the environment with effluent treatment, such as process water treatment and flue gas treatment.
Nordkalk can supply different lime qualities to fit the need for the specific applications. Lime can be delivered in bulk, discharged into a silo. Alternatively, packed in small or big bags.
Selecting the most suitable lime product ensures easy process control, which helps to match the target quality – and maintain low processing costs.
