What are the uses for calcium hydroxide?

Answer 1

Because of its strong basic properties, calcium hydroxide has many and varied uses: A flocculant, in water and sewage treatment and improvement of acid soils An ingredient in whitewash, mortar, and plaster An alkali used as a lye substitute in no-lye hair relaxers A chemical depilatory agent found in Nair A Calcium supplement in mineral fortified baby formulas A chemical reagent In Bordeaux mixture to neutralise the solution and form a long lasting fungicide. In the reef aquarium hobby for adding bio-available calcium in solution for calcium-using animals such as algae, snails, hard tube worms, and Corals (often referred to as Kalkwasser mix), and also to increase the alkalinity of the water. In the tanning industry for neutralization of acid, the liming of hides and skins and the flocculation of wastewater. In the petroleum refining industry for the manufacture of additives to oils (salicatic, sulphatic, fenatic) In the chemical industry for manufacture of calcium stearate In the food industry for processing water (for alcoholic and soft drinks) For clearing a brine of carbonates of calcium and magnesium in the manufacture of salt for food and pharmacopoeia In Native American and Latin American cooking, calcium hydroxide is called "cal". Corn cooked with cal becomes nixtamal which significantly increases its nutrition value, and is also considered tastier and easier to digest. In chewing Betel nut or coca leaves, calcium hydroxide is usually chewed alongside to keep the alkaloid stimulants chemically available for absorption by the body Similarly, Native Americans traditionally chewed tobacco leaves with calcium hydroxide derived from burnt shells to enhance the effects A filler In the petrochemical industry for manufacturing solid oil of various marks In the manufacture of brake pads In the manufacture of ebonite For preparation of dry mixes for painting and decorating In manufacturing mixes for pesticides In manufacturing the trademarked compound "Polikar", an antifungal and antimicrobial preservative for vegetables in storage In Dentistry, it is used as dressing in paste form used for anti-microbial effect during a dental root canal procedure. Calcium hydroxide is known to have a strong anti-microbial effect and is a bone-regeneration stimulant.[2] It has been proposed to add it to sea water in great quantities to reduce atmospheric CO2 and fight the greenhouse effect[1] Used as an acid suppressor in the production of metals. Lime is injected into the waste gas stream to neutralise acids such as fluorides and chlorides prior to being released to atmosphere