Calcium carbonate powder (CaCO₃) has a wide array of uses across many industries due to its versatility, low cost, and non-toxic nature.
Medical and Food Uses
- Calcium Supplement It is a common, effective source of dietary calcium used to prevent or treat calcium deficiencies and related conditions like osteoporosis.
- Antacid As an over-the-counter medication (e.g., Tums), it neutralizes stomach acid to provide relief from heartburn, acid indigestion, and upset stomach.
- Phosphate Binder In patients with chronic kidney disease, it is used to help lower phosphate levels in the blood.
- Food Additive It is widely used as a food additive for calcium fortification in cereals, bread, and non-dairy beverages (like soy milk), as well as a pH regulator, a firming agent, and an anti-caking agent in powdered foods.
Industrial and Manufacturing Uses
- Construction Material It is a primary ingredient in the production of cement, concrete, and mortar. Marble and limestone, natural forms of calcium carbonate, are also used as building materials and aggregates for road construction.
- Paper Industry Used as a filler and coating pigment, it improves the paper's brightness, opacity, and smoothness while reducing production costs and the use of wood pulp.
- Plastics and Polymers As an economical filler, it enhances the mechanical properties of plastics like PVC, polyethylene, and polypropylene, including stiffness, impact strength, and dimensional stability.
- Paints and Coatings It acts as an extender pigment, contributing to opacity and brightness and allowing manufacturers to reduce the use of more expensive pigments like titanium dioxide.
- Rubber Industry Used as a reinforcing filler, it increases the tensile strength, tear resistance, and general durability of rubber products such as tires and hoses.
- Adhesives and Sealants It is incorporated into various adhesives and sealants to improve bond strength, viscosity, and durability.
- Ceramics and Glass In ceramics, it acts as a flux to lower firing temperatures, and in glassmaking, it serves as a stabilizer and a source of calcium to enhance the final product's strength and clarity.
Agricultural and Environmental Uses
- Soil Amendment Known as agricultural lime, it is spread on acidic soils to neutralize pH levels, improving nutrient availability and crop yields.
- Animal Feed It is added to animal feed as an essential calcium supplement for livestock, especially poultry and dairy animals, to support bone development and eggshell strength.
- Water Treatment Calcium carbonate is used in water treatment facilities to adjust pH, neutralize acidic wastewater, and remove impurities or heavy metals.
- Flue Gas Desulfurization In power plants, it helps remove sulfur dioxide from emissions to reduce air pollution.
Household Products
- Toothpaste and Cosmetics It is used as an abrasive in toothpaste and a bulking agent or opacifier in various cosmetics and personal care products.
- Cleaning Products It can be found as an ingredient in household scouring powders and creams.