BUSINESS
lime products during the processing of the
primary lithium-bearing salts.
The demand for higher yields of
agricultural products on smaller surfaces
of land is another future growth point for
lime. As the world’s population continues
to grow, more pressure is placed on food
producers to supply the demand, yet have
limitations in terms of the size of workable
land and freshwater constraints. Lime is one
of the agricultural products that is essential
for ensuring soil remains productive and
continues to provide high harvests.
Demand drivers
According to Breton Scott, managing
director of Bowline Professional Services,
lime products have a wide range of
application, with demand being driven
from sectors like construction, agriculture,
and mining. Organic and inorganic
chemistry use lime as binding agent,
collector, or precipitant. In the paper and
pulp industry, it is added as binding agent
and for basifying. Sugar production is also
dependent on lime products as binder and
neutraliser of acidity. Lime products are
used in the petroleum industry as thickener,
sealant, and pH regulator. Thermal power
stations use it for sulphur sorbent or
detainer, depending on the process.
Addition of lime as binding agent is used
in silicic and lightweight bricks. It is also
the reacting agent in lightweight concrete,
and plasticiser and displacer in mortar.
Furthermore, lime products are used in
asphalt paving to assist with waterproofing,
stabilising, and as anti-disintegrant. In the
agricultural sector, lime-related products
are used in soil improvements as a pH
regulator and accelerant for plant nutrients.
In fertilisers, it serves both as deodoriser
and nutrient. It is added to insecticide and
fungicide as a diluent.
Lime products have a wide application
in smelters, where it is used to act as flux
and binder. It also has environmental
applications in the absorption of smoke
gases and chimney gases and is used during
bar unmoulding, as nickel precipitation
catalyst, and wire production lubricant.
More applications include the cyanidation
of auriferous (gold) and argentiferous
Countries like Zambia that produce a lot
of copper, have to import lime from other
countries to process the copper. In picture
is the processing plant at First Quantum’s
Kanshansi copper mine in the north-west
of Zambia.
QUARRY SA | JULY/AUGUST 2018 _ 33