Abstract: A unique method of convective dissolution of salts from in situ ponds by trenching salt beds, introducing dissolution waters to promote convective dissolution, pumping out the saturated solution from the pond bottom, and introducing additional dissolution waters.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for obtaining sylvinite and/or sylvite from sea water, sea bitterns and/or sea salts. The processes comprise reacting sea water, sea bitterns and/or sea salts with calcium hydroxide and/or calcium oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing lithium carbonate from brine by precipitating calcium ions by reacting brine with schoenite to yield carnallite, Gypsum, and lithium, wherein the brine comprises of salts of one or more of sodium, magnesium, and potassium chloride and then reacting that lithium chloride solution with sodium carbonate to give lithium carbonate.

Abstract: A unique method of convective dissolution of salts from in situ ponds by trenching salt beds, introducing dissolution waters to promote convective dissolution, pumping out the saturated solution from the pond bottom, and introducing additional dissolution waters.

Abstract: A unique method of convective dissolution of salts from in situ ponds by trenching salt beds, introducing dissolution waters to promote convective dissolution, pumping out the saturated solution from the pond bottom, and introducing additional dissolution waters.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for obtaining sylvinite and/or sylvite from sea water, sea bitterns and/or sea salts. The processes comprise reacting sea water, sea bitterns and/or sea salts with calcium hydroxide and/or calcium oxide.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved method for crystallizing inorganic salts. The inorganic salts that are suitable for this process are characterized by the fact that they form isothermic or polythermic concave solubility curves. Each concave solubility curve represents saturated concentrations of the salt that is desired to be purified versus either concentrations of a second, different inorganic salt or versus temperature.

Abstract: A simple, efficient and inexpensive method of purifying magnesium sulfate from mixtures of epsomite and halite. The method allows for the preparation of substantially pure magnesium sulfate products. The method generally involves heating a mixture of epsomite and halite to form clusters of lower hydrated magnesium sulfate crystals and subsequently applying slight pressure to the clusters so that they collapse to yield fine, less hydrated magnesium sulfate crystals which can then be easily separated from the comparatively coarse halite crystals. The less hydrated magnesium sulfate crystals can be recrystallized to provide highly purified epsomite which can then be dehydrated to provide kieserite or anhydrous magnesium sulfate.

Abstract: Brine containing at least two salts, one or more of the salts having a higher hydrated form and a lower hydrated or anhydrous form, is fed to a non-convective solar pond and one of the salts having a higher hydrated form and a lower hydrated or anhydrous form is crystallized in a higher hydrated form, dehydrated to a lower hydrated form, and recovered from the bottom of the pond in solid, pure form essentially free from the other salts in the brine. To effect separation, the salt having a higher hydrated form and a lower hydrated or anhydrous form, which is to be recovered in pure form must be present in the pond in an essentially saturated concentration. The concentrations of any of the other salts must generally not exceed saturation concentration at the temperature in the top layer of the pond, and must not exceed saturation concentration at the conditions in the bottom layer of the pond. Concentrations of other salts in the pond must be controlled such that the required density gradient is maintained.

Abstract: Mined salt mixtures comprising sodium-carbonate, -bicarbonate, -chloride, -sulfate, and -double salts, such as trona and burkeite, are leached with a bicarbonate-saturated solution and added carbon dioxide to selectively dissolve the sodium chloride, sodium sulfate and burkeite and to precipitate additional trona, leaving a leach residue consisting essentially of trona. The trona is calcined and dissolved, and the carbonate solution is purified, crystallized and dehydrated in a non-convective solar pond yielding high purity sodium carbonate monohydrate which is converted into dense soda ash. The brine solution from the leach may be treated for the recovery of a further amount of trona.

Abstract: A method of recovering boric acid from a subterranean deposit of colemanite ore by solution mining, comprises:supplying a leach solution comprising hydrochloric acid to the subterranean deposit via an injection well in communication therewith, whereby colemanite ore is dissolved and an aqueous pregnant solution of boric acid and calcium chloride is formed in the deposit;withdrawing the pregnant solution of boric acid and calcium chloride from said deposit via a production well in communication therewith;separating boric acid from the withdrawn solution;adding sulfuric acid to the resultant concentrated solution from which boric acid has been separated, whereby hydrochloric acid is regenerated therein and CaSO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O is formed;separating CaSO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O from the resultant solution containing regenerated hydrochloric acid thereby forming a regenerated leach solution; andrecycling the regenerated leach solution to the subterranean deposit of colemanite via an injection well.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of partially dehydrated or anhydrous salts from higher hydrates of the same salt, utilizing solar energy. Hydrated salts which have an increasing solubility with an increase of temperature, possessing a transition temperature from the existing high hydrated form to the desired one in the range of between about 30.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. are partially or completely dehydrated in a solar pond having a non-convecting characteristic. Examples of salts produced according to the present invention are: anhydrous sodium sulfate from sodium sulfate decahydrate, magnesium sulfate monohydrate from magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, sodium carbonate monohydrate from sodium carbonate decahydrate and sodium borate pentahydrate from sodium borate decahydrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of potassium chloride and of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (bischoffite) from carnallite or from carnallite containing sodium chloride.The process comprises heating carnallite at a temperature of between above 70.degree. C. and above 167.5.degree. C. in the presence of added water at the above former temperature or without added water (but preventing evaporation of water) at the above latter temperature. Solid potassium chloride is then separated. In the residual brine, carnallite is precipitated by evaporation or by lowering the temperature, and it is recycled to the starting stage. The residual solution consists essentially of magnesium chloride which is recovered as bischoffite.

Abstract: A process is provided for the recovery of chemicals, such as chlorides, sulfates, carbonates and borates of such alkali metals as sodium and potassium, among others, from underground brines associated with an ore body containing said chemicals, wherein the underground brine is pumped to the surface and confined over said ore body where it is concentrated by solar evaporation and the concentrated brine returned to an underground basin adjacent said ore body and stored for later removal by pumping for the subsequent recovery of chemicals therefrom. Thus, solar evaporation is used to produce the desired concentration of brine to optimize the subsequent recovery of chemicals therefrom, thereby resulting in substantial savings in overall energy costs.

Abstract: Evaporite minerals comprising mixtures of relatively coarse salts are treated in a manner such that certain of said salts are converted by recrystallization to very finely divided form and then separated from the coarse salts by size classification such as elutriation, the treatment being especially useful in a process for the recovery of potassium sulfate from marine evaporite mixtures such as kainite and halite.

Abstract: A process is provided for the recovery of chemicals, such as chlorides, sulfates, carbonates and borates of such alkali metals as sodium and potassium, among others, from underground brines associated with an ore body containing said chemicals, wherein the underground brine is pumped to the surface and confined over said ore body where it is concentrated by solar evaporation and the concentrated brine returned to an underground basin adjacent said ore body and stored for later removal by pumping for the subsequent recovery of chemicals therefrom. Thus, solar evaporation is used to produce the desired concentration of brine to optimize the subsequent recovery of chemicals therefrom, thereby resulting in substantial savings in overall energy costs.