The Effect of Initial Hydration Temperature on the Characteristics of Calcium Hydroxide and Aragonite Precipitated Calcium Carbonate

Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) is obtained through three processes; that of calcination, hydration, and carbonation. Thus, changes in each process condition determine the particle size or morphology of the mediums (calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide) as well as the product (PCC). To date, studies concerning precipitated calcium carbonate have mainly focused on the carbonation process, aimed at the manufacturing of PCC. Thus far, few studies on calcination or hydration have been conducted. Calcium hydroxide is regarded as the most important factor during the carbonation process. It is obtained through a hydration process. Therefore, in order to create the valuable PCC studies that center on the hydration process should be carried out. The present study seeks to investigate the effect of the hydration condition, particularly the temperature, on the synthesis characteristics of calcium hydroxide and aragonite PCC. The results show that the particle size of calcium hydroxide changes with variations in the initial hydration temperature. In particular, a higher initial temperature resulted in a larger particle size of the calcium hydroxide used in the synthesis. The particle size and yield of aragonite also increased when calcium hydroxide created at high temperatures was used. However, the water/solid ratio or total amount at the hydration time had no effect on the manufacturing process of aragonite.