AIAS

Lecture Title:
Lime-Soda Process

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 LIME-SODA PROCESS AIAS

Principle
❑ It is the process of conversion of all soluble hardness causing impurities into
insoluble precipitates by the addition of Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] and
Sodium carbonate [Na2CO3] in the presence or absence of coagulants.
❑ It is a method for softening of hard water and can be used for the treatment
of large volumes.
❑ At room temperature the precipitates formed are very fine. A small amount
of coagulant like Alum [K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O], aluminum sulphate
[Al2(SO4)3] or sodium aluminate [NaAlO2] is added. These coagulants
hydrolyze forming larger particles which settle under gravity.

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1) Cold lime soda process (Room temperature, coagulants)

i) Batch

ii) Continuous
Conventional
Sludge blanket
Catalyst type

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2) Hot lime soda process (Temp: 95-100ᵒC, no coagulants)

i) Batch (Similar to cold Lime-soda process with additional heating
coil)
ii) Continuous: Three sections: Reaction tank, sedimentation tank
and sand filter.

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 Difference between cold and hot lime soda process
Cold Lime-Soda process
1) Carried out at room temperature
(25-30ᵒC)
2) Slow process
3) Use of coagulant is necessary
4) Filtration is not easy
5) Residual hardness 60 ppm
6) Dissolved gases are not removed
7) Low softening capacity
AIAS
Hot Lime-Soda process
1) Carried out at high temperature
(95-100ᵒC)
2) Fast process
3) No coagulant required
4) Filtration is easy as viscosity of
water is low
5) Residual hardness 15-30 ppm
6) Dissolved gases are removed
7) High softening capacity
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 Reactions in Lime soda process AIAS

1) Temporary hardness
a) Ca(HCO3)2 +Ca(OH)2 → 2CaCO3 + 2H2O
b) Mg (HCO3)2 + 2 Ca(OH)2 → Mg(OH)2 + 2CaCO3 + 2H2O
2) Permanent hardness
a) CaCl2 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + 2NaCl
CaSO4 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + Na2SO4
b) MgCl2 + Ca(OH)2 → Mg(OH)2 + CaCl2
CaCl2 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + 2NaCl
MgSO4 + Ca(OH)2 → Mg(OH)2 + CaSO4
CaSO4 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + Na2SO4
3) Other ions
a)CO2 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 + H2O
b) NaHCO3 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 + Na2CO3 + H2O 6
 Reactions in Lime soda process AIAS

4) Acids
a) 2HCl + Ca(OH)2 → CaCl2 + 2H2O
CaCl2 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + 2NaCl
b) H2SO4 + Ca(OH)2 → CaSO4 + 2H2O
CaSO4 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + Na2SO4

5) Coagulants
a) Al2(SO4)3 + 3Ca(OH)2 → 2 Al(OH)3 + 3CaSO4
CaSO4 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + Na2SO4
b) FeSO4 + Ca(OH)2 → Fe(OH)2 + CaSO4
CaSO4 + Na2CO3 → CaCO3 + Na2SO4
c) NaAlO2 + 2H2O → Al(OH)3 + NaOH
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 Table: Addition of Lime-Soda
AIAS

Salt Lime/Soda
Ca(HCO3)2 L
Mg(HCO3)2 2L
Ca2+ (CaSO4, CaCl2) S
Mg2+ (MgSO4, MgCl2) L+S
NaHCO3 (HCO3⁻) L-S
CO2 L
H+ (HCl, H2SO4) L+S
FeSO4 L+S
Al2(SO4)3 L+S
NaAlO2 -L

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Advantages of lime-soda process

✓ Economical
✓ Removes hardness causing salts as well as minerals
✓ Pathogenic bacteria reduced
✓ Iron and Manganese removed.
Disadvantages of lime-soda process
✓ Requires careful and skilled operation
✓ Sludge disposal is a problem
✓ Water contains insoluble salts like sodium sulphate and cannot be used in
high pressure boilers.

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 To calculate the total amount of Lime-Soda required
AIAS

1) Convert the amount of impurities into CaCO3 equivalents

2) Identify the lime-soda requirements
3) Substitute in formula and calculate the total amount of Lime-soda
required.

Lime = (74/100) [ temporary Ca hardness + (2 x temporary Mg hardness) +

Perm Mg hardness + CO2 + HCl + H2SO4 + HCO3⁻ + salts of Fe2+, Al3+ -
NaAlO2} x (100/%purity) x volume of water]

Soda = (106/100) [ perm Ca hardness + Perm Mg hardness + HCl + H2SO4 -

HCO3⁻ + salts of Fe2+, Al3+} x (100/%purity) x volume of water]

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