Abstract: This invention relates to a process for removing sulphates and calcium from a water stream which includes the steps of: combining the water stream and an amount of amorphous aluminum trihydroxide (Al(OH)3); allowing the formation of ettringite (3CaO.Al2O3.3CaSO4.31/32H2O) as a precipitate; and removing the precipitated ettringite from the water stream.

Abstract: A method for producing precipitated calcium carbonate by reacting an aqueous solution of calcium nitrate [Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 ] with an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate [(NH.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3 ] and allowing calcium carbonate to precipitate from the resultant mixture containing nitrate [NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3 ] in the mother liquor, the process being characterized in that: (i) the calcium nitrate [Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2)] solution utilized in the processes is prepared by slaking lime [CaO] in water in the presence of ammonium nitrate [NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3 ] to form calcium nitrate [Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 ] and ammonium hydroxide [NH.sub.4 OH] in solution, filtering the solution to render it solids free, and heating the filtrate to dissociate the ammonium hydroxide [NH.sub.4 OH] and to drive ammonia gas [NH.sub.3 ] from the solution; (ii) the ammonium carbonate (NH.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3 solution utilized is prepared by absorbing ammonia gas [NH.sub.3 ] and carbon dioxide gas [CO.sub.