Calcination is a pyrometallurgical process involving the heating of a metal ore in the presence of limited air or oxygen, typically to a temperature below the ore's melting point.
The primary purpose of calcination is to remove volatile impurities from the ore.
The term originates from the Latin word for lime, as one of the most common applications of calcination is the conversion of calcium carbonate into calcium oxide.
What is Calcination in Short Answer? (7 Key Points Explained)
1. Heating Process
During calcination, the ore is heated in a reactor known as a calciner or sometimes in a furnace under controlled conditions.
2. Release of Carbon Dioxide
This process results in the release of carbon dioxide and the transformation of the ore, such as the conversion of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to calcium oxide (CaO).
3. Purification
This transformation is crucial for the removal of impurities and the preparation of the ore for further processing.
4. Classic Example
A classic example of calcination is the production of lime from limestone. In this process, limestone is heated to a high temperature, causing the release of carbon dioxide gas and leaving behind lime, which is in an easily powdered condition.
5. Industrial Applications
This makes it suitable for various industrial applications.
6. Difference from Sintering
The process of calcination differs from sintering, another pyrometallurgical process. While calcination is focused on the removal of impurities by heating the ore, sintering involves heating the ore to weld together small particles of a metal.
7. Calcination Furnaces
Calcination furnaces are designed to achieve thermal decomposition by heating the material in the presence of oxygen or air, or under conditions of limited oxygen supply. The main objectives of using a calcination furnace include driving off absorbed moisture, volatile constituents like carbon dioxide, or oxidizing the entire substance.
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