Slaked lime is a substance that is used in a variety of ways. It’s usually used to raise pH levels in other substances. If you’re looking for a slaked lime definition, then look no further. Slaked lime is just another name for calcium hydroxide, which is a chemical compound you may or may not be familiar with.
We’ve used calcium hydroxide for years in construction and architecture, as well as agriculture, gardening, etc. There are so many uses for slaked lime that I couldn’t pinpoint just one. It’s a versatile substance that can be used in a wide range of things. For example, slaked lime or calcium hydroxide can be used for…
Gardening and Agriculture
While it might seem odd that we’d be using slaked lime for agriculture, it’s a really valuable resource. For starters, slaked lime keeps moisture out of the surface of the land. This helps protect plants from excessive moisture which can lead to rotting stems. It’s also a great way to disinfect crops from diseases and pests.
It can improve the soil used for growing plants by reducing acidity, which many plants need to grow well. It also provides the plants with calcium which is also necessary for the growing process. For more information on soil pH, follow the link. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/changing-the-ph-of-your-soil/
Pesticide
Lime Slaking is a great method for ridding your lawn or garden of unwanted pests such as fleas from your yard. Parasites and other creepy crawlies aren’t just gross to be around or a nuisance when they infest your home or lawn. These things can cause a huge health risk to you and your animals. They can make you sick, itchy, and even possibly kill your pets if it’s serious enough. Hydrated lime can help you kill these pests and enjoy your lawn again.
Steel manufacturing
Slaked lime, also known as hydrated lime, is an important part of steel manufacturing. It’s used to remove impurities from the steel. It can also aid in the production of other metals. It can remove things like phosphorus, sulfur, silica, and manganese which are unwanted materials in steel.
Mold and bacteria removal
While slacked lime is typically used for agricultural use and steel manufacturing, it’s important to note that it can also be used to kill impurities such as mold or bacteria. Since it affects the pH balance of surfaces, it can kill mold spores and bacteria at the same time it’s improving the soil quality.
If you’re looking for more ways to remove mold from your home, click here.
Other uses
Slaked lime is used to make a lot of building essentials construction workers need to do their jobs. For instance, slaked lime can be used to make mortals, cement, paints, plasters, rubber, and other products.
Slaked lime can also be used to remove acidic gases in energy plants, glassmakers, incinerators, and cement mills that are fueled by coal. The environmental factors of slaked lime are being studied more and more.
Stay cautious when you’re using slaked lime
Slaked lime can cause some potential health risks if it’s not handled properly and stored correctly in powdered form. Moisture can cause a serious chemical reaction when it’s introduced to slaked lime. This reaction can generate heat from an exothermic reaction. Explosions and fires could potentially occur from this so it’s best to keep it separated from everything.
Also, masks should be worn when handling the slaked lime. Inhaling the dust from slaked lime can cause serious lung issues. For example, it can cause choking, unconsciousness, and lung damage. In the rare instance, it can even cause death. That’s why it’s important to store this in an airtight room.
If slaked lime is exposed to the skin, it can cause severe skin irritation since it’s corrosive on contact. If it’s exposed to the eyes, it can cause serious if not permanent damage to them. If you’re ever exposed to lime on your skin, immediately brush off as much as you can and wash the exposed area with lots of water. Contact a medical professional if it’s still irritating.
Eyes are another story. Flush your eyes out with water as much as you can. Make sure you get the whole eye, hold your eyelids open if you don’t feel comfortable keeping them open while flushing them out in a sink or eyewash station. Don’t rub your eyes and call a medical professional as soon as possible.
I recommend calling in a professional to deal with slaked lime for you, that way you don’t have to be dealing with some of the risk factors.
From pesticides, agricultural properties, and construction work, slaked lime is a versatile substance. It’s used to purify and kill bacteria that can pose a risk to you, and your environment. It’s also a great way to increase the fertility of your garden and balance out those pH levels.
