Abstract: The present invention is a method to identify a refinery solid foulant of unknown composition including the following steps: obtaining a solid foulant sample, removing trapped feed from the sample with a solvent to obtain an insoluble sample, scanning the insoluble sample with a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-rays, performing a thermal gravimetric analysis including an ash test on the insoluble sample to determine the presence of polymer, coke and inorganic elements, performing an elemental analysis on the insoluble sample for the elements carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, halogens, and metals, performing an optical microscopy on the insoluble sample to determine the presence of wax, asphaltenes, anisotropic coke and isotropic coke, and identifying the solid foulant.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to identify a refinery solid foulant of unknown composition including the following steps: obtaining a solid foulant sample, removing trapped feed from the sample with a solvent to obtain an insoluble sample, scanning the insoluble sample with a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-rays, performing a thermal gravimetric analysis including an ash test on the insoluble sample to determine the presence of polymer, coke and inorganic elements, performing an elemental analysis on the insoluble sample for the elements carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, halogens, and metals, performing an optical microscopy on the insoluble sample to determine the presence of wax, asphaltenes, anisotropic coke and isotropic coke, and identifying the solid foulant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recovery of industrial grade potassium chloride and low sodium edible salt from bittern as part of an integrated process. The process comprises, mixing low sulphate concentrated feed bittern (a by-product of salt industry) of density 31.5 to 32.5° Be (sp.gr. 1.277-1.289) with high density end bittern of density 36.5 to 37.5° Be? (sp.gr. 1.336-1.35), thereby producing low sodium carnallite, from which industrial grade potassium chloride is produced. The resultant bittern is evaporated in forced evaporation system, thereby producing crude carnallite, from which low sodium salt that would be beneficial to persons suffering from hypertension is produced. When sulphate-rich bittern is used, such bittern is desulphated with CaCl2 that is generated from carnallite decomposed liquor through reaction with lime, and wherein low B2O3-containing Mg(OH)2 is a by-product. The entire content of potassium in feed bittern is recovered in the process of the invention.

Abstract: A novel integrated process for the recovery of sulphate of potash (SOP) from sulphate rich bittern is disclosed. The process requires only bittern and lime as raw materials. Kainite type mixed salt is obtained by fractional crystallization of the bittern, Kainite is converted to schoenite with simultaneous removal of NaCl by processing it with water and end liquor obtained from reaction of schoenite with MOP for its conversion to SOP. The end liquor from kainite to schoenite conversion (SEL) is used for the recovery of MOP. SEL is desulphated and supplemented with MgCl2 using end bittern generated in the process of making carnallite. The carnallite is decomposed to get crude potash which in turn processed to get MOP. The carnallite decomposed liquor produced in the decomposition of carnallite is reacted with hydrated lime for preparing CaCl2 solution and high purity Mg(OH)2 having low boron content, The CaCl2 solution is used for desulphatation of SEL producing high purity gypsum as a byproduct.