Role of calcium oxide in soda lime decarboxylation
Calcium oxide is not necessary for carrying out this reaction. It only prevents NaOH from touching the glass of the container where the reaction is done. If a solid mixture of sodium acetate and NaOH is heated to high temperature, some NaOH will attack the glass before reacting with acetate, and make the glass melt down. If NaOH is intimately mixed with CaO, this trouble is avoided. The glassware is saved.