2522.20.00.00 - Slaked lime

This HTS category, 2522.20.00.00, specifically classifies "Slaked lime," also known as hydrated lime. Slaked lime is produced by reacting quicklime (calcium oxide) with water, resulting in calcium hydroxide. It typically appears as a fine white powder or a paste, and its primary characteristic is its lower reactivity compared to quicklime. Its common applications include its use as a neutralizing agent, in construction for mortar and plaster, in water treatment, and in various industrial processes.

It is important to distinguish slaked lime from its siblings within heading 2522. Quicklime (2522.10.00.00), the direct product of calcining limestone, is anhydrous calcium oxide and is a more reactive material. Hydraulic lime (2522.30.00.00) is a specialized type of lime that contains sufficient clay or siliceous materials to set and harden when mixed with water, unlike ordinary slaked lime which requires carbon dioxide from the air to harden.

As a leaf node, 2522.20.00.00 does not have further subcategories. Therefore, classification within this heading relies on the accurate identification of the product as calcium hydroxide that has undergone the slaking process. This contrasts with calcium oxide and hydroxide falling under heading 2825, which are generally considered pure chemicals rather than bulk mineral products.