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	<title>Soda lime - Revision history</title>
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		<title>imported&gt;WP Ludicer: /* See also */</title>
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		<updated>2025-09-03T10:41:50Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;autocomment&quot;&gt;See also&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{Short description|Chemical mixture for absorbing carbon dioxide}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Drägersorb Soda Lime.jpg|thumb|Soda lime canister used in anaesthetic machines to act as a carbon dioxide scrubber]]&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Soda lime&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a [[mixture]] of [[sodium hydroxide]] (NaOH) and [[calcium oxide]] (CaO). It is used in granular form within recirculating breathing environments like [[general anesthesia]] and its [[breathing circuit]], [[submarine]]s, [[rebreather]]s, and [[hyperbaric chamber]]s and [[underwater habitat]]s. Its purpose is to eliminate [[carbon dioxide]] ({{Chem|C|O|2}}) from [[breathing gas]]es, preventing [[carbon dioxide retention]] and, eventually, [[carbon dioxide poisoning]].&amp;lt;ref name=Barash&amp;gt;{{cite book&lt;br /&gt;
 |author     = Andrews, J. Jeff&lt;br /&gt;
 |title      = Clinical Anesthesia&lt;br /&gt;
 |editor1    = Paul G. Barash&lt;br /&gt;
 |editor2    = Bruce F. Cullen&lt;br /&gt;
 |editor3    = Robert K. Stoelting&lt;br /&gt;
 |chapter    = Anesthesia Systems&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher  = Lippincott Williams &amp;amp; Wilkins&lt;br /&gt;
 |location   = United States&lt;br /&gt;
 |edition    = 5th&lt;br /&gt;
 |date       = 1 September 2005&lt;br /&gt;
 |pages      = 1584&lt;br /&gt;
 |isbn       = 978-0-7817-5745-4&lt;br /&gt;
 |chapter-url = https://www.isbnlib.com/isbn/0781757452/Clinical-Anesthesia-Clinical-Anesthesia--Barash&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713061326/http://www.isbnlib.com/isbn/0781757452/Clinical-Anesthesia-Clinical-Anesthesia--Barash&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status   = dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-date = 13 July 2011&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date = 1 July 2010&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=Brubakk&amp;gt;{{cite book |title=Bennett and Elliott&amp;#039;s physiology and medicine of diving, 5th Rev ed. |last=Brubakk |first=Alf O. |author2=Tom S. Neuman |year=2003 |publisher=Saunders Ltd. |location=United States |isbn=978-0-7020-2571-6 |pages=800 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The creation of soda lime involves treating [[slaked lime]] with a concentrated [[sodium hydroxide]] solution.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Chemical components==&lt;br /&gt;
The primary components of soda lime include: [[calcium oxide]] (CaO) constituting approximately 75%, [[water]] ({{Chem|H|2|O}}) accounting for around 20%, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) making up about 3%, and [[potassium hydroxide]] (KOH) present at approximately 0.1%.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Anaesthesia==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Further information|Carbon dioxide scrubber}}&lt;br /&gt;
During [[general anaesthesia]], a patient&amp;#039;s [[exhaled gas]]es, containing carbon dioxide, pass through an [[anaesthesia machine]]&amp;#039;s [[breathing circuit]], containing a [[soda lime canister]] filled with soda lime granules.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Barash&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Medical-grade soda lime includes an indicating dye that changes color when it reaches its carbon dioxide absorption capacity. To ensure proper functioning, a [[carbon dioxide scrubber]] (or soda lime canister) should not be used if the indicating dye is activated. Standard anesthesia machines typically contain up to {{Convert|2|kg}} of soda lime granules.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Recent carbon dioxide absorbents have been developed to minimize the risk of toxic by-product formation resulting from the interaction between the absorbent and [[inhaled anesthetics]], like [[halothane]]. Some absorbents, including those made from lithium hydroxide, are available for this purpose.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Space flight==&lt;br /&gt;
In space flights, [[lithium hydroxide]] (LiOH) is used as a carbon dioxide absorbent due to its low [[molecular weight]] (Na: 23 g/mol; Li: 7 g/mol), saving weight during launch. During the [[Apollo 13]] flight, high carbon dioxide levels in the [[Lunar Module]] led the crew to adapt spare absorbent cartridges from the Apollo capsule to the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) system.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Rebreather use==&lt;br /&gt;
Exhaled gas in a breathing circuit must pass through a carbon dioxide scrubber where carbon dioxide is absorbed before the gas is circulated for breathing again. In [[rebreather]]s, this scrubber is integrated into the breathing loop.&amp;lt;ref name=Brubakk/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=rebreather2.0&amp;gt;{{cite journal |author=Richardson, Drew; Menduno, Michael; Shreeves, Karl (eds). |title=Proceedings of Rebreather Forum 2.0. |journal=Diving Science and Technology Workshop. |publisher=[[Diving Science and Technology]] |year=1996 |pages=286 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/7555 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915044304/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/7555 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 15, 2008 |access-date=2009-03-18 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; However, in larger settings like [[recompression chamber|recompression chambers]] or submarines, a fan is employed to ensure a continuous flow of gas through the scrubbing canister. The use of indicating dye in [[United States Navy]] fleet applications ceased in 1996 due to concerns about potential chemical releases into the circuit.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite journal |vauthors=Lillo RS, Ruby A, Gummin DD, Porter WR, Caldwell JM |title=Chemical safety of U.S. Navy Fleet soda lime |journal=Undersea Hyperb Med |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=43–53 |date=March 1996 |pmid=8653065 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2238 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116131405/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2238 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=November 16, 2007 |access-date=2009-03-18}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Chemical reaction==&lt;br /&gt;
The overall [[chemical reaction]] is:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; + Ca(OH)&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; → CaCO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; + H&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O + heat (in the presence of water)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Each [[Mole (unit)|mole]] of CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; (44 g) reacts with one mole of [[calcium hydroxide]] (74 g) and produces one mole of water (18 g).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The reaction can be considered as a strong-base-catalysed, water-facilitated reaction.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Pelc_1921&amp;quot;&amp;gt;[https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/84/2d/e0/19cc8f7e593d70/US1447568.pdf Joseph Pelc (1923). Process of treating lime-containing materials. Application filed August 30, 1921. Serial No. 496,963. Patented Mar. 6, 1923. United States, 1,447,568 Patent Office.]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The reaction mechanism of carbon dioxide with soda lime can be decomposed in three elementary steps:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:1) &amp;lt;chem&amp;gt; CO2(g) &amp;lt;=&amp;gt;&amp;gt; CO2(aq)&amp;lt;/chem&amp;gt;            (CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; dissolves in water – slow and [[Rate-determining step|rate-determining]]),&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:2) &amp;lt;chem&amp;gt;CO2(aq) + NaOH -&amp;gt; NaHCO3&amp;lt;/chem&amp;gt;      (bicarbonate formation at high pH),&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:3) &amp;lt;chem&amp;gt;NaHCO3 + Ca(OH)2 -&amp;gt; CaCO3 + NaOH + H2O &amp;lt;/chem&amp;gt;  (NaOH recycled to step 2 – hence a [[catalyst]]).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This sequence of reactions explains the [[Catalysis|catalytic]] role played by [[sodium hydroxide]] in the system and why soda lime is faster in chemical reactivity than calcium hydroxide alone.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Samari_2019&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite journal|last1=Samari|first1=Mohammad|last2=Ridha|first2=Firas|last3=Manovic|first3=Vasilije|last4=Macchi|first4=Arturo|last5=Anthony|first5=E. J.|title=Direct capture of carbon dioxide from air via lime-based sorbents|journal=Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change|year=2019|volume=25|pages=25–41|issn=1381-2386|doi=10.1007/s11027-019-9845-0|doi-access=free}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The moist sodium hydroxide impregnates the surface and the [[porosity]] of calcium hydroxide grains with a high [[specific surface area]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Sevcik_2016&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite journal|last1=Ševčík|first1=Radek|last2=Mácová|first2=Petra|last3=Sotiriadis|first3=Konstantinos|last4=Pérez-Estébanez|first4=Marta|last5=Viani|first5=Alberto|last6=Šašek|first6=Petr|title=Micro-Raman spectroscopy investigation of the carbonation reaction in a lime paste produced with a traditional technology|journal=Journal of Raman Spectroscopy|volume=47|issue=12|year=2016|pages=1452–1457|issn=0377-0486|doi=10.1002/jrs.4929|bibcode=2016JRSp...47.1452S|hdl=11380/1315677|hdl-access=free}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It reacts much more quickly and so contributes to a faster elimination of the carbon dioxide from the rebreathing circuit. The formation of water by the reaction and the moisture from the respiration also act as a solvent for the reaction. Reactions in aqueous phase are generally faster than between a dry gas and a dry solid. Soda lime is commonly used in closed-circuit [[rebreather|diving rebreathers]] and in the [[anesthesia breathing circuit]] in anesthesia systems.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Adriani_1941&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite journal|last1=Adriani|first1=J.|last2=Byrd|first2=M. L.|year=1941|title=A study of carbon dioxide absorption appliances for anesthesia: The canister|journal=Anesthesiology |volume=2|issue=4|pages= 450–455|doi=10.1097/00000542-194107000-00009 |doi-access=free}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Freeman_2014&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite book|first1=Brian S.|last1=Freeman|first2=Jeffrey S.|last2=Berger|year=2014|url=http://accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1102566097|title=Anesthesiology Core Review: Part One Basic Exam. Chapter 17: Absorption of Carbon Dioxide|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education|access-date=22 April 2020|via=Access Medicine}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The same catalytic effect by the [[alkali hydroxide]]s (function of the Na&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;eq&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; content of [[cement]]) also contributes to the carbonation of [[portlandite]] by atmospheric CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; in [[concrete]] although the rate of propagation of the [[Reaction–diffusion system|reaction front]] is there essentially limited by the carbon dioxide [[diffusion]] within the concrete matrix less [[porosity|porous]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Verbeck_1958&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite book|last1=Verbeck|first1=G. |title=Cement and Concrete |chapter=Carbonation of Hydrated Portland Cement |date=1958 |pages=17–36|doi=10.1520/STP39460S|isbn=978-0-8031-5667-8}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Analogy with the alkali–silica reaction==&lt;br /&gt;
{{See also|Alkali–silica reaction}}&lt;br /&gt;
A similar reaction to above, also catalysed by sodium hydroxide, is the alkali–silica reaction, a slow degradation process causing the swelling and the cracking of [[concrete]] containing [[Construction aggregate|aggregate]]s rich in reactive [[amorphous silica]]. In a very similar way, sodium hydroxide greatly facilitates the dissolution of the amorphous silica. The produced [[sodium silicate]] then reacts with the calcium hydroxide ([[portlandite]]) present in the hardened [[cement]] paste to form [[calcium silicate hydrate]] (abbreviated as C-S-H in the [[cement chemist notation]]). This [[silicification]] reaction of calcium hydroxide on its turn continuously releases again sodium hydroxide in solution, maintaining a high pH, and the cycle continues up to the total disappearance of portlandite or reactive silica in the exposed concrete. Without the [[catalysis]] of this reaction by sodium- or potassium-soluble hydroxides, the alkali–silica reaction would not proceed or would be limited to a very slow [[pozzolanic reaction]]. The alkali–silica reaction can be written like the soda lime reaction, by simply substituting carbon dioxide by [[silica dioxide]] in the reactions mentioned here above as follows:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:{| style=&amp;quot;white-space:nowrap;&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! style=&amp;quot;text-align:left;&amp;quot; | reaction 1:&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;amp;nbsp; || align = &amp;quot;right&amp;quot; | SiO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; + NaOH || &amp;amp;nbsp; || → || &amp;amp;nbsp; || NaHSiO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;|| &amp;amp;nbsp; ||silica dissolution by NaOH:&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;high pH&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! style=&amp;quot;text-align:left;&amp;quot; | reaction 2:&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;amp;nbsp; || align = &amp;quot;right&amp;quot; | NaHSiO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; + Ca(OH)&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; || &amp;amp;nbsp; || → || &amp;amp;nbsp; || CaSiO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; + H&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O + NaOH || &amp;amp;nbsp; &amp;amp;nbsp; ||C-S-H precipitation&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;and regeneration of NaOH&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! style=&amp;quot;text-align:left;&amp;quot; | sum (1+2):&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;amp;nbsp; || align = &amp;quot;right&amp;quot; | SiO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; + Ca(OH)&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; || &amp;amp;nbsp; || → || &amp;amp;nbsp; || CaSiO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; + H&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O || &amp;amp;nbsp; &amp;amp;nbsp; ||global reaction:&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;[[Pozzolanic reaction]] catalysed by NaOH&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==See also==&lt;br /&gt;
* {{annotated link|Carbon dioxide scrubber}}&lt;br /&gt;
* {{annotated link|Alkali–silica reaction|Alkali–silica reaction}}&lt;br /&gt;
* {{annotated link|Soda–lime glass}}, made from silica, soda, lime and aluminum oxide&lt;br /&gt;
* {{annotated link|Baralyme}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==External links==&lt;br /&gt;
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120908112233/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/xmlui/search?query=Sodalime Publications on sodalime in diving operations]}}&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100928053857/http://molecularproducts.com/pdf/Sofnolime%20Issue%2012.pdf Sofnolime MSDS] Example of a commercial soda lime product that is used in diving and medicine&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100922200304/http://molecularproducts.com/pdf/technical-library/An%20Introduction%20to%20Sofnolime%20Technical%20Article.pdf An Introduction to Sofnolime (Technical Article)]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Hydroxides]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Calcium compounds]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Sodium compounds]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Anesthetic equipment]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Rebreather components|*]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Catalysis]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>imported&gt;WP Ludicer</name></author>
	</entry>
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