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'Liquid Lime Sludge' can mean many things. Lime Sludge or Slurry is usually referring to one of the following:
Dry Ag Lime / Ground Calcium Carbonate mixed in water
Liquid Calcium Carbonate / Precipitated Calcium Carbonate produced for the paper industry
Liquid Lime produced for the agriculture and turf industry
Dry Ag Lime doesn't mix or suspend very well in water because limestone in any grade is insoluble. When mixing Ag Lime with water, constant and vigorous agitation is required. After agitating/mixing, the limestone particles will settle within 5-15 minutes. Few farmers have sprayers that enable them to continue this high level of agitation simultaneously while spraying the limestone solution. It is also important to note that this solution will line the equipment (tank, filter, pump, valves, lines, nozzles) with limestone particles/film which is extremely corrosive. Wash equipment thoroughly with 'tank cleaner' after use.
Liquid Calcium Carbonate or Precipitated Calcium Carbonate is produced for the paper industry. These liquids are extremely thick due to the added suspension agents. Although these liquids remain in suspension for a longer period of time, the solution is usually too thick to spray through an agricultural sprayer. It is also important to note that the chemicals added to these solutions are designed for paper and other industrial purposes - not agriculture. Watering down or diluting these solutions to create a thinner, easier to spray liquid is often ineffective. When these solutions are watered down, the suspension agents lose their suspending capabilities. As a result, thick lime sludge settles to the bottom of the tank.
Liquid Lime products marketed in the agriculture and turf industry are sometimes the exact same products mentioned above. Many companies are repackaging Liquid Calcium Carbonate / Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (designed for the paper industry) and misrepresenting their purpose and effectiveness in agriculture and turf applications.
Other Liquid Lime products contain trace amounts of Limestone, Calcium or Chelated Calcium. These heavily diluted Liquid Lime products are easier to spray but have minimal agronomic value. Limestone's primary agronomic purpose is to neutralize hydrogen thus raising the soils pH. Calcium by itself has no neutralizing effect on hydrogen. However, these products may be able to effectively remedy small calcium deficiencies. In order for Liquid Lime to be effective in neutralizing hydrogen, it must be in 'carbonate' form.
The most effective Liquid Lime products are 'micro-sized' suspensions. Micro-sized suspensions, often referred to as Micro Lime or Mojo Lime are measured by micron size. Micro Lime / Mojo Lime usually has a micron size less than 10. Ag Lime and some Liquid Lime suspensions are measured by mesh size.
Mesh size is measured by the number of openings in a 1 inch screen. A 4-mesh screen has 4 openings and a 100-mesh screen has 100 openings. 100% of the material must be able to pass through the opening to be rated.
Translating Mesh to Microns:
60 mesh = 250 micron
100 mesh = 149 micron
200 mesh = 74 micron
325 mesh = 44 micron
1250 mesh = 10 micron
Dry Ag Lime is considered to be 100% effective when in 60-mesh grade. However, the particle/micron size of 60-mesh grade (250 microns) is too large to be effective in a Liquid Lime slurry or suspension. Liquid Calcium Carbonate / Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (designed for the paper industry) ranges from 74-250 microns in size. Smaller micron sizes not only improve handling but improve the coverage and effectiveness of the application.
Conclusion:
Identify the micron size of a Liquid Lime product to determine its effectiveness and intended use. Liquid Lime products ranging from 74-250 microns (60-200 mesh) are difficult to handle and spray. In addition, the agronomic value and performance is limited as most of these products were not designed for agricultural use. Micro-sized Liquid Lime products are ideal for agriculture and turf applications.
What else can I help you with?
What is lime sludge?
Lime sludge is a byproduct of the water treatment process that involves adding lime to water to adjust its pH level. It is a soft, white, chalky solid that settles at the bottom of water treatment tanks. Lime sludge needs to be properly disposed of to prevent environmental contamination.
What is the substance used on farms to reduce the acidity of soil?
Lime is commonly used on farms to reduce the acidity of soil. It helps to raise the soil's pH level, making it more alkaline and improving nutrient availability for plant growth. Agricultural lime is a common type used for this purpose.
How many different types of sludge are there?
3 types: Sewage sludge Septic tank sludge Industrial sludge ------- The term "sludge" is used in different disciplines to mean different things. For example, there is sewage sludge industrial sludge metal sludge gallbladder sludge engine sludge the muddy gunk on the bottom of a stream or river slushy ice on the ocean an agglutination or aggregation of blood cells
Why does slaked lime give a more immediate response than agricultural lime?
Slaked Lime is Hydrated and increases PH faster that agricultural lime. It is also more caustic.
How much would a cubic yard of lime sludge weigh at 24-28 percent solids?
A cubic yard of lime sludge at 24-28 percent solids would weigh approximately 2,400-2,800 pounds. This calculation takes into account the weight of the water content in the sludge at the given percentage.
Is Sodium Bicarbonate and Agricultural Lime the same thing?
No, the main componant to Agricultural Lime is Calcium Carbonate rather than sodium, making them chemically different.
How do you test if the liquid is lime water?
Lime water turns milky when CO2 (carbon dioxide) is passed thru it. So to test if a given liquid is lime water, then pass CO2 thru it, if it turns milky, d liquid is lime water...
When is agricultural lime safe around horses?
Agricultural lime is sometimes toxic to horses. It should be kept away from young horses and in large amounts or high concentrations.
If a dog lies in agricultural lime for a long period of time what will happen to the dog?
If a dog lies in agricultural lime for a long period of time, it can cause irritation and burns to their skin and paws. Inhaling the dust from lime can also result in respiratory issues for the dog. It's important to remove the dog from the lime and thoroughly clean their fur and paws to prevent any further harm.
How does agricultural lime help flowers grow?
If the soil is acidic, agricultural lime (limestone) can counteract the acidity, and bring the soil back to a neutral pH. This allows the plant to extract nutrients from the soil.
Agricultural products that start with the letter L?
· lemon · lime · lettuce
Is hydrated lime a liquid or a gas?
It can be both...
