LIME-SODA PROCESS

Basic principle: Lime [Ca(OH)2] and soda [Na2CO3] are the reagents used to precipitate the dissolved salts of Ca+2 and Mg+2 as CaCO3 and Mg(OH)2. The precipitated CaCO3 and Mg(OH)2 are filtered off. Lime reacts with temporary hardness, CO2, acids, bicarbonates and alums. Lime cannot remove the calcium permanent hardness which should be removed by soda. The precipitation reactions with lime and soda are very slow. Only calculated amounts of lime and soda are to be added. Excess amount of lime & soda causes boiler troubles like caustic embrittlement. Calculation of lime & soda required for the process: Amount of lime required for softening = 74/100 [temp. hardness of Ca+2 + 2 x temp. hardness of Mg+2 + permanent hardness of Mg+2 + CO2 + HCl + H2SO4 + NaHCO3 + KHCO3 + FeSO4 + {3 x Al2(SO4)3} NaAlO2 ] Amount of soda required for softening = 106/100 [permanent hardness of Ca+2 + permanent hardness of Mg+2 + HCl + H2SO4 + FeSO4 + {3 x Al2(SO4)3}- NaHCO3 KHCO3] * All in terms of chemical equivalents of CaCO3. The above mentioned formulae are based on the chemical reactions involved in the process as mentioned below. Treatment with lime: 1. Removal of temporary hardness of Ca+2 Ca(HCO3)2 + Ca(OH)2 Mg(HCO3)2 + 2Ca(OH)2 2CaCO3 Mg(OH)2 + 2H2O + 2CaCO3 + 2H2O 2. Removal of Temporary hardness of Mg+2 3. Removal of Permanent hardness of Mg+2 MgCl2 + Ca(OH)2 MgSO4 + Ca(OH)2 Mg(NO3)2 + Ca(OH)2 4. Removal of CO2 CO2 + Ca(OH)2 CaCO3 + H2O Mg(OH)2 Mg(OH)2 Mg(OH)2 + CaCl2 + CaSO4 + Ca(NO3)2

5. Removal of acids 2HCl + Ca(OH)2 H2SO4 + Ca(OH)2

+

CaCl2 + 2H2O CaSO4 + 2H2O

6. Removal of bicarbonates of Na and K+ 2NaHCO3 + Ca(OH)2 2KHCO3 + Ca(OH)2 7. Removal of alums FeSO4 + Ca(OH)2 Al2(SO4)3 + 3Ca(OH)2 NaAlO2 + 2H2O 2NaOH + CaCl2 Treatment with soda: Removal of Permanent hardness of Ca+2 CaCl2 + Na2CO3 CaSO4 + Na2CO3 Ca(NO3)2 + Na2CO3 Conclusions: 1. Half mole of lime is required for the removal of one mole of HCl and bicarbonates of Na+ and K+ each. 2. One mole of lime is required for the removal of one mole of temporary hardness of Ca+2, permanent hardness of Mg+2, CO2, FeSO4, H2SO4 each. 3. Two moles of lime is required for the removal of one mole of temporary hardness of Mg+2. 4. Three moles of lime is required for the removal of one mole of Al2(SO4)3. 5. NaOH produced by NaAlO2 reacts with hardness causing salts and produces lime. Hence its hardness must be subtracted from the lime requirement. 6. During the treatment of lime to remove the permanent hardness of Mg+2, acids and alums the permanent hardness of Ca+2 is generated in water. Hence they require both lime and soda treatment. CaCO3 CaCO3 CaCO3 + 2NaCl + Na2SO4 + 2NaNO3 CaSO4 + Fe(OH)2 3CaSO4 + 2Al(OH)3 Al(OH)3 + NaOH Ca(OH)2 + 2NaCl CaCO3 2CaCO3 + Na2CO3 + 2H2O + K2CO3 + 2H2O