Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for extending the life of tailings ponds produced from purge streams containing inorganic salts such as sodium carbonate, which method comprises treating such purge stream with gaseous carbon dioxide. This treatment converts the sodium carbonate into sodium bicarbonate. As the pond evaporates, the sodium bicarbonate will take up only about 40 percent of the volume of the sodium carbonate decahydrate that is formed by the drying of sodium carbonate.

Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream in a gas-liquid absorber apparatus having two separate absorption sections and utilizing a first absorber alkali solution stream that is a waste sodium carbonate source from a soda ash production facility and a second absorber alkali solution stream that is a process feed stream from a soda ash production facility. The method is particularly well suited for removing H2S from a CO2-containing gas stream generated in a soda ash production facility.

Abstract: A method of producing trona suitable for flue gas desulfurization comprising mechanically mining a trona ore deposit containing insoluble impurities; crushing the mined trona ore to create a mixture of uncalcined trona-rich particles and impurities-rich particles; beneficiating the crushed uncalcined trona ore to obtain a trona-rich, impurities-depleted ore fraction; and drying the trona-rich ore fraction under non-calcining conditions to yield a dry uncalcined trona ore. A preferred embodiment includes concurrently milling and drying the trona-rich, impurities-depleted ore fraction to recover a low moisture content trona product having a high NaHCO3:Na2CO3 ratio, useful for the efficient dry injection desulfurization of flue gas streams.