Understanding How Calcium Carbonate is Used in Water Purification

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is literally the backbone of so many living things on our planet since it is a main component of skeletal tissue, as well as the outer coverings of shellfish, pearls, eggshells and corals. How can this compound be used to purify water? Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem is here to answer that question for you.

Defining calcium carbonate

Working under the pseudonyms calcite, chalk, dolomite, lime, ground limestone, or whiting, calcium carbonate is a component of all these minerals. It appears as a white solid, but can be ground to a powder or crystalline texture. It easily pulls water from the surrounding environment, which leaves this compound damp to the touch. 

Calcium carbonate forms naturally and is often found in limestone aquifers and in desert climates. Calcium carbonate is generally considered water soluble. 

Water treatment uses

In water treatment facilities, calcium carbonate is naturally basic and increases the alkalinity of water. Acidic waters, which are on the increase due to acid rain, are neutralized with the addition of calcium carbonate. 

When combined with other chemicals to form calcium polysulphide or calcium hydroxide, these chemicals act as flocculants to adhere waste materials, creating a much heavier material that drifts to the bottom of tanks to be more easily removed. 

If these compounds are considered toxic, calcium carbonate partially negates their toxicity. For instance, soft water more naturally contains more toxic levels of copper, lead, and zinc since soft water increases these metals’ solubility. The addition of calcium carbonate is renowned for its negative effects on these metals’ water corrosivity.

Any detergents or cleansing agents present in drinking water are cleansed with the addition of calcium carbonate, which stifles their efficiency.

Taste matters

Calcium carbonate predicts a water’s “softness” or “hardness,” and the addition of calcium carbonate gives water a more appealing flavor since people tend to prefer harder water. 

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including calcium carbonate. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.