Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the processing mechanism of calamine.
Method: XRD, TEM and IR were adopted to analyze the structures and the components of original and calcined calamine. Their antibacterial activities were also determined.
Result: The results indicated that zinc carbonate in original calamine was decomposed into zinc oxide after processing at 700 degrees C for 1 hour using original calamine of 40 mesh, and the particle size was smaller than before processing. All of ZnO, ZnCO3 and Zn5 (CO3) 2 (OH) 6 had antibacterial activitives.
Conclusion: Original calamine is deposed to ZnO after being calcined for 1 h at 700 degrees C and wet milling. The content of ZnO and antibacterial activity of calcined calamine are better than those of original calamine, moreover, the particle size diminishes and become dimensional uniformity, and the contents of dissolved impurities is decreased. The antibacterial activitives of original and calcined calamine are decided by zinc.