Nowadays a typical method to produce calcium carbonate is based on the gas-liquid reaction between carbon dioxide and aqueous solutions of calcium hydroxide. Several chemical engineering processes are involved in this operation, Such as mass transfer, chemical kinetics, etc. The aim of this research work is to study the global reaction process that involves absorption, reaction and precipitation processes. The effect of the precipitation process upon the gas/liquid mass transfer operation has been analyzed and the experimental results have shown a clear influence. Also, the characteristics of the solid phase precipitated have been determined and the effect of the reactive system upon these characteristics has been explained. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.