Abstract: A method of removing SOx from a flue gas stream including SOx includes providing a source of trona and injecting the trona as a dry sorbent into the flue gas stream. The temperature of the flue gas is at an elevated temperature greater than 400° F., preferably between about 600° F. and about 900° F. The trona is maintained in contact with the flue gas for a time sufficient to react a portion of the trona with a portion of the SOx to reduce the concentration of the SO2 and/or SO3 in the flue gas stream.

Abstract: A method of producing crystals of crystallizable mineral salt comprises introducing an effluent comprising a dissolved crystallizable mineral salt at a temperature higher than the mineral salt crystallization temperature to a crystallization pond area to provide a pond solution; cooling the pond solution to provide cooling crystallization promoting conditions effective to form a crystalline mineral salt deposit; stopping the flow of the effluent; draining remaining spent liquor to a liquor pond area; and recovering the deposit. Cooling the pond solution may comprise exposure to cool ambient temperatures which are lower than the crystallization temperature. Preferably, the mineral salt includes or is sodium carbonate decahydrate; the pond solution comprises less than 10% NaCl; and/or the decahydrate deposit is sent or recycled to a soda ash plant. The deposit thus formed by cooling crystallization has a higher purity, lower hardness, and/or lower density than a deposit formed by evaporative crystallization.

Abstract: A sodium sulfite liquor is formed by reacting sodium carbonate with sulfur dioxide. A CO2 byproduct may be removed from the formed liquor by injecting a stripping gas (e.g., steam and/or air) into the liquor, either into a transfer pipe or into a tank that is vented; by increasing the liquor temperature; and/or by reducing the liquor pressure. The decarbonated sodium sulfite liquor with a reduced carbon dioxide content is introduced into a crystallizer connected to a circulation loop comprising a heater and/or a filter. Additional decarbonation by heating, stripping and/or depressurization of the liquor may be carried out in a circulation loop connected to the crystallizer. The condensing side of the heater may be vented. The flow rate of the circulation loop and/or heater temperature differences may be monitored. Additional CO2 may be vented from a holding tank to maintain circulation loop flows and heater temperature differences.

Abstract: A magnesium treatment for removing water-soluble impurities in a process for making crystalline sodium carbonate, bicarbonate, or sulfite. A waste comprising such impurities is treated with a magnesium compound to form water-insoluble matter which is removed to form a purified solution. The treatment may be performed on a solution which contains the waste and optionally dissolved calcined trona. The purified solution may be used as a feedstock to form crystalline soda ash, and/or used as a reactant to produce crystalline sodium sulfite or bicarbonate via reaction with SO2 or CO2. In preferred embodiments, the waste may comprise a purge or weak liquor, a reclaimed solid, or combinations thereof. The water-soluble impurities may be silicates and/or foam-causing impurities, and the waste may contain sodium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, and/or one or more sodium carbonate hydrates, such as decahydrate.

Abstract: A process for beneficiation of trona includes supplying a trona feedstream that is crushed and dried. The trona is then separated into a first size fraction and a second size fraction. Impurities are removed from the first size fraction using at least one magnetic separator. The magnetic separator includes a plurality of stages. Each stage includes a conveyer system including a first end, a second end, and a conveyer belt. Each stage also includes a magnetic roller disposed at the second end of the conveyer system and a splitter disposed adjacent the second end of the conveyer system for separating a fraction of magnetic impurities from the trona to create a beneficiated fraction. At least one conveyer belt is deionized. Airborne dust particles are removed from an area surrounding at least one conveyer system.

Abstract: Methods for heating a solid material comprising a granular material are provided. Dust is removed from the granular material before it is heated. The dust is injected into the exhaust gas from the heater. The heated dust is recovered and combined with the heated granular material.

Abstract: Processes for producing sodium bisulfite from sodium sulfite purge streams are disclosed which enable recovery of additional resource material including sodium bisulfite.

Abstract: Mining method for co-extraction of non-combustible ore and mine methane A method for co-extracting non-combustible ore (e.g., trona) and methane from an underground formation comprising at least one methane-bearing layer and a non-combustible ore bed having a rock roof, comprising: providing a well having a downhole end positioned above the ore bed roof; mining an ore region from an initial cavity and removing the mined ore, thereby creating a subsequent cavity; advancing the mining step to another ore region from the subsequent cavity; allowing the roof of the initial cavity to cave so as to create a gob; repeating the mining, advancing and caving steps, the caving being effective in generating fluid communication between the gob and the well downhole end and in fracturing the methane-bearing layer so as to release methane into the gob; and recovering a gob gas comprising released methane through the well to the surface.

Abstract: A method of removing SO2 from a flue gas stream including SO2 includes providing a source of trona and injecting the trona into the flue gas stream. The temperature of the flue gas is between about 600° F. and about 900° F. The trona is maintained in contact with the flue gas for a time sufficient to react a portion of the trona with a portion of the SO2 to reduce the concentration of the SO2 in the flue gas stream.

Abstract: Dust-free alkaline earth peroxides are obtained by mixing alkaline earth peroxides with a compacting aid and dry-compacted in a compactor, for example, a roller press. Examples of suitably useful compacting aids include sodium bicarbonate, cellulose, magnesium montanate and cross-linked silicone compounds.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing the fouling during the removal of sulfur trioxide from a flue gas stream by maintaining the reagent (i. e. sodium sesquicarbonate) in contact with the flue gas for a sufficient time and temperature to react a portion of the reagent with a portion of the sulfur trioxide to substantially avoid formation of liquid phase NaHSO4 reaction product that combines with the fly ash so as to not form a sticky ash residue that adheres to the flue gas duct, wherein the reaction product of the reagent and the sulfur trioxide is selected from the group consisting of Na2SO4, Na2S2O7 and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A process for the beneficiation of trona includes supplying a trona feedstream that is crushed and dried. The trona is then separated into a first size fraction and a second size fraction. Impurities are removed from the first size fraction using at least one magnetic separator. The magnetic separator includes a plurality of stages. Each stage includes a conveyor system comprising a first end, a second end, and a conveyor belt. Each stage also includes a magnetic roller disposed at the second end of the conveyor system and a splitter disposed adjacent the second end of the system for separating a fraction of magnetic impurities from the trona to create a beneficiated fraction. At least one conveyor belt is deionized. Airborne dust particles are removed from an area surrounding at least one conveyor system.

Abstract: A process for beneficiation of trona includes supplying a trona feedstream that is crushed and dried. The trona is then separated into a first size fraction and a second size fraction. Impurities are removed from the first size fraction using at least one magnetic separator. The magnetic separator includes a plurality of stages. Each stage includes a conveyer system including a first end, a second end, and a conveyer belt. Each stage also includes a magnetic roller disposed at the second end of the conveyer system and a splitter disposed adjacent the second end of the conveyer system for separating a fraction of magnetic impurities from the trona to create a beneficiated fraction. At least one conveyer belt is deionized. Airborne dust particles are removed from an area surrounding at least one conveyer system.

Abstract: Homogeneous, boron-doped alkaline earth peroxides and mixed alkaline earth peroxides, methods for the production thereof, and use thereof as oxygenating agents for agricultural purposes.

Abstract: A method for solution mining nahcolite, capable of extracting nahcolite from geological formations lean in nahcolite comprising injecting high pressure water (which may include recycled aqueous solution of bicarb and sodium carbonate) at a temperature of at least 250° F. into the formation, dissolving nahcolite in the hot water to form a production solution and recovering the production solution. The invention also includes the processing of the production solution to provide sodium carbonate and, optionally, sodium bicarbonate, comprising: decomposing the sodium bicarbonate portion of the hot aqueous production solution to form a hot aqueous solution of sodium carbonate; evaporating water from the hot aqueous solution comprising sodium carbonate to form a concentrated solution of sodium carbonate; producing sodium carbonate monohydrate from the concentrated solution of sodium carbonate by crystallization; and dewatering and calcining the sodium carbonate monohydrate to produce anhydrous sodium carbonate.

Abstract: Ultra-dry calcium carbonate particles, a method for drying calcium carbonate particles and also the use of the resulting dried calcium carbonate as a flow property regulating agent in sealing compounds or adhesive compositions. The calcium carbonate particles are dried with microwaves. The drying can take place in a continuous belt apparatus, a batch treatment apparatus or a rotary-tube apparatus, and calcium carbonate particles having a degree of dryness of 0 to 0.1% H2O can be obtained.