Calcination

Authorities differ on the meaning of Calcination (also referred to as calcining). The IUPAC defines it as 'Heating to high temperatures in air or oxygen'. However calcination is also used to mean a thermal treatment process in the absence or limited supply of air or oxygen applied to ores and other solid materials to bring about a thermal decomposition, phase transition, or removal of a volatile fraction. The calcination process normally takes place at temperatures below the melting point of the product materials. Calcination is not the same process as roasting. In roasting, more complex gas–solid reactions take place between the furnace atmosphere and the solids. Calcination takes place inside equipment called calciners. A calciner is a steel cylinder that rotates inside a heated furnace and performs indirect high-temperature processing (1000-2100 °F) within a controlled atmosphere.

Industrial processes

The process of calcination derives its name from the Latin calcinare (to burn lime) due to its most common application, the decomposition of calcium carbonate (limestone) to calcium oxide (lime) and carbon dioxide, in order to create cement. The product of calcination is usually referred to in general as "calcine," regardless of the actual minerals undergoing thermal treatment. Calcination is carried out in furnaces or reactors (sometimes referred to as kilns or calciners) of various designs including shaft furnaces, rotary kilns, multiple hearth furnaces, and fluidized bed reactors.