Characterization of Calcined Lobong Limestone

Abstract

This study aims to produce and characterize CaO (calcium oxide) from limestone, a natural product of Lobong Village. Calcination is the thermal decomposition of limestone to remove carbon so that it can produce calcium oxide. One of the functions of CaO is as an eco-friendly catalyst that does not produce toxic or hazardous waste and can be reused. CaO resulting from the calcination process at a temperature of 900°C for 1.5 h was characterized using XRD, SEM, FTIR, and EDS. XRD analysis of calcined limestone produced 2θ (h k l) diffraction peaks, namely 32.228o (1 1 1), 37.389o (2 0 0), 53.864o (2 2 0), 64.169o (3 1 1), and 67.404o (2 2 2) which indicates the dominance of CaO. SEM analysis shows that the morphological structure of Lobong limestone after calcination is more porous than before. Studies by FTIR show that the chemical bonds of carbonate groups in the calcined limestone are decreasing. EDS analysis also shows that the mapping of carbon, which forms carbonates in calcined limestone, is decreasing.