[Chemical Knowledge]：Properties, uses, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods, calcium chloride powder

Calcium chloride powder properties

Calcium chloride powder (CaCl₂) is an inorganic salt, usually in the form of white crystals or particles. It has strong hygroscopicity and easily absorbs moisture in the air, so it has deliquescence. This feature makes calcium chloride powder quickly dissolve into a liquid in a humid environment. Calcium chloride has a melting point of 772°C and a boiling point of 1935°C. It is easily soluble in water and releases a large amount of heat. It is also soluble in ethanol and ether. Due to its high solubility and exothermic properties, calcium chloride powder is widely used in many industrial and commercial applications.

Use of calcium chloride powder

Calcium chloride powder is widely used in dehumidification and desiccant because of its hygroscopicity and solubility. It is used as a reinforcing agent and accelerator in the construction industry, especially for winter construction, because it can reduce the setting time of cement. Calcium chloride powder is used in the food industry as a food additive, such as a preservative and a coagulant. It is also used as a road snow-melting agent because calcium chloride releases a large amount of heat when dissolved in water, causing the snow and ice to melt rapidly. In the water treatment industry, calcium chloride powder is used to adjust the hardness of water and prevent scaling of pipes and equipment.

Calcium chloride powder upstream and downstream raw materials

The main production method of calcium chloride powder is through the reaction of chlorine and limestone (or lime) preparation. The specific reaction is: CaCOL2HCl → CaCl₂ CO₂ H₂ O, or through the reaction of lime and hydrochloric acid: Ca(OH)₂ 2HCl → CaCl₂ 2H O. Upstream raw materials mainly include chlorine, limestone (or lime) and hydrochloric acid. Downstream applications cover industries such as chemicals, food, construction, roads, and water treatment. The demand for calcium chloride in these applications also drives upstream raw material mining and processing.

Calcium Chloride Powder Storage Method

Because calcium chloride powder has strong hygroscopicity, its storage method is particularly important. The calcium chloride powder should be stored in a sealed moisture-proof container to avoid direct contact with air. The storage environment should be kept dry and placed in a cool place as much as possible to prevent direct sunlight and high temperatures. Calcium chloride powder should be kept away from flammable and acidic substances, because it reacts with acids to release chlorine gas, and its hygroscopicity may cause fire hazards. During transportation, attention should also be paid to the tightness of the packaging to avoid moisture and damage.

Application of Calcium Chloride Powder in Construction Industry

In the construction industry, calcium chloride powder is mainly used as an accelerator for concrete. It can significantly shorten the solidification time of concrete, so as to speed up the construction progress, especially in low temperature conditions. Calcium chloride powder is also used as an antifreeze, because it can lower the freezing point of water and prevent concrete from freezing damage in winter construction. Because of its good water solubility and promoting effect on cement strength, calcium chloride powder has become an indispensable chemical additive in construction engineering.

Application of Calcium Chloride Powder in Food Industry

Calcium chloride powder has a variety of uses in the food industry. As a food additive, it is widely used in pickled food, canned food and tofu production. In pickled foods, calcium chloride powder can enhance brittleness and improve taste; in canned foods, calcium chloride can be used as a calcium fortifier to improve nutritional value; in the process of making tofu, calcium chloride powder is used as a coagulant to condense soybean milk into tofu. Calcium chloride powder is also used for soft water treatment in beer production to remove impurities in water and improve the taste and quality of beer.

Application of Calcium Chloride Powder in Water Treatment Industry

In the water treatment industry, the main use of calcium chloride powder is to adjust the hardness of water. It can effectively remove calcium and magnesium ions in water, prevent scaling of pipelines and equipment, and extend the service life of equipment. Calcium chloride powder is also used as a precipitant in wastewater treatment, which can quickly settle suspended solids in water and improve water quality. In the process of sludge dewatering, calcium chloride powder can also play a certain flocculation effect, improve the dewatering performance of sludge, improve the treatment efficiency.

Application of Calcium Chloride Powder in Road Snowmelt

Calcium chloride powder is widely used for snow melting on roads in winter because of its exothermic property when dissolved in water. Compared with the traditional sodium chloride snow-melting agent, calcium chloride can maintain the snow-melting effect at a lower temperature, and it has less damage to the environment and vegetation. In the process of melting snow, calcium chloride powder can quickly reduce the freezing point of ice and snow, make the ice and snow on the road melt quickly, and ensure the smooth and safe traffic. Calcium chloride powder is less corrosive to metals and is more effective in protecting vehicles and road facilities.

Future market trends and challenges

With the increasing demand for calcium chloride powder in various industries, the calcium chloride powder market is expected to continue to expand in the future. Environmental and safety issues in the production process will be the main challenges. The waste gas and waste water discharged in the production process of calcium chloride powder should be strictly controlled to avoid environmental pollution. Safety during storage and transportation also needs to be strengthened to avoid product deterioration and safety hazards due to hygroscopicity. The progress of technology and the improvement of environmental protection measures will be the key to promote the sustainable development of calcium chloride powder industry.

Summary

As an important chemical raw material, calcium chloride powder plays an important role in many fields such as construction, food, water treatment and road snow melting due to its unique physical and chemical properties. The supply of its upstream raw materials is closely related to the demand of the downstream market, which promotes the continuous development of the related industrial chain. In the future, with the improvement of environmental protection requirements and technological progress, the calcium chloride powder market will face new opportunities and challenges. Scientific storage and transportation methods, reasonable application technology and strict environmental protection measures will ensure the safe and efficient application of calcium chloride powder and help the sustainable development of various industries.