Abstract: A floating salt farm in which its purpose is to produce crystallized salt and bittern at offshore locations through the evaporation process using extracted seawater. The floating salt farm components can be consisted of a seawater tank, an evaporator tank, a heating tank, a deposit tank, a storage tank, and photovoltaic panels, which these components are installed onto the buoyant foundation. The evaporator tank component can consist of an evaporator plate and an evaporator bin. The evaporator plate, which captures the produced crystallized salt during the evaporation process, has a sieve surface. The contents inside the evaporator bin can affect the properties of the produced crystallized salt and bittern, such as their mineral compositions, during the evaporation process. The seawater can be extracted from desired water depths and/or in the proximity of volcanic sites, in which the seawater can have affected mineral compositions due to volcanic activity.

Abstract: Disclosed is method for separating solute from an aqueous solution comprising providing a first aqueous solution substantially saturated with solute, contacting the first aqueous solution with a clathrate former under conditions sufficient to form clathrates and to precipitate the solute from the first aqueous solution, separating solute from the clathrates by removing a first stream comprising clathrates and solute, and removing a second stream comprising solute, decomposing the clathrates into the clathrate former and a second aqueous solution, the second aqueous solution comprising solute in a concentration less than the concentration of solute in the first aqueous solution, and recycling the second aqueous solution by contacting said solution with a source for the solute to form a third substantially saturated aqueous solution for use as, or in combination with, the first aqueous solution, wherein the method is continuous.

Abstract: A process for formulating high purity potassium chloride from a carnallite source. The process takes advantage of solubility differences and saturation levels in a multiple salt system generated upon dissolution of carnallite. In the system, the sodium chloride is kept in solution and the magnesium chloride present in the system is controlled to be in a concentration range of between 12% and 25% by weight. This avoids co-precipitation of sodium chloride with the potassium chloride during crystallization and therefore prevents the sodium chloride from contaminating the potassium chloride. The result is high grade potassium chloride.

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 process of the invention is an improvement over the existing process of producing salt of high purity from alum-treated brine disclosed recently in the prior art. More particularly, the invention rectifies the ratio of Ca2+ to Mg2+ from a value <1 to a value in the range of 2-3 desired by chlor-alkali and soda ash industries. The improved process involves the adjustment of pH of clarified brine with aqueous HCl so as to carry out salt crystallization at a pH of 6.5 instead of at the natural pH of 7. The pH adjustment reduces the Mg2+ impurity in salt while slightly raising the Ca2+ impurity in the salt and thereby achieving the desired ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for solution mining of evaporite minerals, such as trona, comprising drilling an access well and at least two lateral boreholes; injecting a fluid; circulating the fluid through the lateral boreholes with a controlled fluid flow; and collecting a pregnant solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity at a temperature sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the solution in the cavity in the Wegscheiderite solid phase region; removing aqueous solution from the cavity; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity; removing aqueous solution from the cavity, wherein the temperature of the removed aqueous solution is at about the TWA point temperature; and recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution.

Abstract: A process related to sodium chemicals production, including the processing of bicarbonate containing solutions obtained by solution mining of trona, nahcolite or wegscheiderite reserves and the lake waters containing bicarbonates, includes the steps of purification, evaporation-decarbonation, crystallization, centrifuging, and drying.

Abstract: A process for obtaining monochlorated lithium sulfate from natural brines by mixing two brines: one saturated or nearly saturated with silvite (KCl), carnallite (KCl, MgCl2.6H2O), and lithium sulfate (Li2SO4.H2O), with a magnesium content of 4.7-6%, 0.8-1.2% lithium, and 1.2-4.2% total sulfate; and the other brine is saturated with bischofite (MgCl.6H2O), monohydrated lithium sulfate (Li2SO4.H2O), and carnallite (KCl, MgCl2.6H2O), and with a lithium content of 2.5-6%, below 6% magnesium, and less than 0.2% total sulfate, such that the resulting brine achieves a lithium sulfate content that exceeds its solubility in the brine, hereby it precipitates as monohydrated lithium sulfate. Crystallization can be accomplished in three stages in order to separate the carnallite from the lithium sulfate by filtering and washing it so as to enhance its purity and then drying the product if the goal is to retain anhydrous lithium sulfate.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of producing natural salt or fresh water by treating sea water in an extremely short period of time and with high efficiently. The distilled water and salt components are treated for expediting crystallization of the salt components by evaporating water components by atomizing sea water and blowing warm wind thereto. During this treatment, there are provided a method and an apparatus of arranging net or cloth at one stage or a plurality of stages in a midway of a flow of the evaporated water components and adhering the salt components on the net or the cloth when the evaporated water components pass through the net or the cloth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing crystals of a polymorphic compound in a first crystal structure by introduction of the compound in a second crystal structure into a saturated brine solution of the compound under conditions in which formation of the first crystal structure is favored and without evaporation or changes in temperature. As the second crystal structure dissolves, the brine becomes supersaturated resulting in relief of supersaturation by formation of crystals of the first crystal structure. The process includes controlling supersaturation and its relief to achieve growth of existing crystals of the first crystal structure rather than nucleation and formation of new crystals. The resulting crystals are separated from insoluble impurities on a size separation basis.

Abstract: A protein crystal growth assembly including a crystal growth cell and further including a cell body having a top side and a bottom side and a first aperture defined therethrough, the cell body having opposing first and second sides and a second aperture defined therethrough. A cell barrel is disposed within the cell body, the cell barrel defining a cavity alignable with the first aperture of the cell body, the cell barrel being rotatable within the second aperture. A reservoir is coupled to the bottom side of the cell body and a cap having a top side is disposed on the top side of the cell body.

Abstract: Process for enriching crude salt, in which the crude salt is ground and then cooled in a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution, to a temperature below the anhydrous sodium chloride to sodium chloride dihydrate transition temperature, a stock of a powder comprising sodium chloride crystals is collected from the cooling step and the powder is subjected to particle-size fractionation from which a fine particle-size fraction and a coarse particle-size fraction comprising the enriched salt are collected.

Abstract: A method of producing sodium carbonate crystals from a sodium carbonate-containing solution including the steps of passing the sodium carbonate-containing solution to a precipitator, adding methanol to the sodium carbonate-containing solution in the precipitator such that a resultant liquor has methanol in a concentration of between 15% and 70% by volume, precipitating the sodium carbonate crystals from the resultant liquor, washing the precipitated sodium carbonate crystals with an alcohol-containing solution and drying the washed precipitated sodium carbonate crystals. The sodium carbonate-containing solution has a sodium carbonate concentration ranging between 100 g/l to saturation. The methanol is in residence with the sodium carbonate-containing solution for between 10 and 100 minutes. The alcohol-containing solution has an alcohol concentration ranging between 50% and 100%.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of anhydrous sodium from a thenardite ore containing sodium sulfate comprising the steps of: crushing the thenardite ore; lixiviating the crushed ore in a first lixiviation step with water or with an exhausted solution from a succeeding step, at a temperature between about 28.degree. C. and 40.degree. C., obtaining a suspension comprising a sodium sulfate saturated solution, sludges and insoluble material, settling the sludges and insoluble material from the saturated solution to separate a clarified solution; crystallizing the clarified saturated solution in a first crystallization step at a temperature between 32.degree. C. and 20.degree. C., maintaining the height of the solution not exceeding about 15 centimeters, to obtain a Glauber salt with large crystals of sodium sulfate and ten molecules of water. When the clarified saturated solution is crystallized, an exhausted solution is produced which is drained and recycled back to the first lixiviation step.

Abstract: A potassium chloride mixture with grains of different sizes is extracted in a first stage with an unsaturated solution at an elevated temperature, whereby the finest grains are completely dissolved and the coarse proportions are caused to start dissolution, the purified medium fraction is transported into a second process stage and the previously dissolved amount of KCl is crystallized there onto the purified grains at a lower temperature, forming a product of high purity with a balanced grain size and a narrow grain spectrum.

Abstract: Optically active tryptophan of high purity can be obtained in high yields from a tryptophan fermentation broth, using crystallization of optically active tryptophan hydrochloride in combination with concurrent neutralization crystallization. According to the present invention, optically active tryptophan from a tryptophan containing fermentation broth, is carried out by (a) removing cells from the fermentation broth, adding hydrochloric acid, or a mixture of hydrochloric acid and an inorganic salt which contains chloride ions, to the cell-free broth to effect crystallization, (b) separating optically active tryptophan hydrochloride, (c) dissolving the optically active tryptophan hydrochloride, and (d) subjecting the resulting solution and an alkali solution to concurrent neutralization crystallization, maintaining a pH of the crystallization solution in the range of from 3 to 8.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for purifying brine for electrolysis in chlor-alkali cells, especially membrane cells by reducing the sulfate ion concentration, while at the same time minimizing the concentration of other undesireable ions such as calcium and chlorate. The methods and systems employed are unique combinations of refrigeration and crystalization, and brine recirculation techniques in the systems for electrolyzing brine.

Abstract: Pure boric acid is obtained by a high-yield method with a non-pollutant effluent discharge, comprising the following stages carried out in succession:a) dissolving impure boric acid in an aqueous vehicle to form an aqueous solution of impure boric acid;b) separating pure crystalline boric acid from the aqueous solution of stage a) by crystallization;c) treating the discharge liquor from the crystallization of stage b) firstly through a strong cation exchange resin and then through a weak anion exchange resin;d) recycling the discharge liquor treated in stage c) for use as the aqueous vehicle for dissolving the impure boric acid in stage a).

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for purifying brine for electrolysis in chlor-alkali cells, especially membrane cells by reducing the sulfate ion concentration, while at the same time minimizing the concentration of other undesireable ions such as calcium and chlorate. The methods and systems employed are unique combinations of refrigeration and crystallization, and brine recirculation techniques in the systems for electrolyzing brine.

Abstract: An improved process is described for recovering lithium from evaporatively concentrated brines. Epsom salt recovered from the brine at about 0.degree. C. is added to the concentrated lithium-containing brine, so as to precipitate lithium sulfate monohydrate, the brine having previously been subjected to the sequential steps of two stage chilling, evaporative concentration, further chilling and vacuum evaporation.

Abstract: An improved harvester for harvesting a salt crop from the bottom of a shallow, elongated solar crystallizer containing a substantially saturated salt solution overlying the salt crop. The harvester includes track means extending longitudinally along the sides of the crystallizer on which a pair of carriages are movably mounted and support the ends of a frame extending transversely across the crystallizer. The frame includes salt gathering means for transferring the salt crop laterally in the form of one or a plurality of longitudinally extending furrows or ridges in response to the travel of the harvester along the tracks and the resultant gathered salt is extracted by one or a plurality of suction inlets disposed in alignment with the furrows in the form of an aqueous brine slurry. The extracted salt crop is subsequently separated and recovered while the liquid brine is returned to the crystallizer.

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: An improved process for the production of potassium sulfate crystals by the reaction of saturated solution of potassium chloride with langbeinite in the solid phase at a temperature of from 45.degree.-55.degree. C., thereby forming potassium sulfate crystals and magnesium chloride solution comprising the step of conducting the reaction in the presence of a growth enhancer comprising monosulfonated or monosulfated surfactant and a neutralized disulfonated surfactant in a weight ratio of from about 0.14 to 0.69.

Abstract: Method of extracting magnesium sulphate from mixtures constituted essentially of magnesium sulphate heptahydrate and sodium chloride by means of heat treatment, grinding and dry grading.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of potassium sulphate from solutions containing magnesium chloride and potassium chloride from solutions, more particularly from mother liquors issuing from the treatment of carnallite. According to this process sodium sulphate and potassium chloride are added to the solutions so as to precipitate sodium chloride and schoenite (K.sub.2 SO.sub.4.MgSO.sub.4.6H.sub.2 O) and the schoenite is treated in a known manner to produce potassium sulphate.

Abstract: A method of extraction of HI from an aqueous solution of HI and I.sub.2. HBr is added to create a two-phase liquid mixture wherein a dry phase consists essentially of HBr, I and HI and is in equilibrium with a wet phase having a far greater HBr:HI ratio. Using a countercurrent extractor, two solutions can be obtained: a dry HBr--HI--I.sub.2 solution and a wet essentially HBr solution. The dry and wet phases are easily separable, and HI is recovered from the dry phase, after first separating I.sub.2, as by distillation. Alternatively, the HI-HBr liquid mixture is treated to catalytically decompose the HI. HBr is recovered from the wet phase by suitable treatment, including high-pressure distillation, to produce an H.sub.2 O--HBr azeotrope that is not more than 25 mole percent HBr. The azeotrope may be returned for use in an earlier step in the overall process which results in the production of the aqueous solution of HI and I.sub.2 without major detriment because of the presence of HBr.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of increasing and maintaining high concentrations of potassium chloride in a refinery process stream of brine containing potassium chloride, sodium chloride and a minor amount of salt impurities by mixing with a first process stream potassium chloride crystallized from a pond wherein a brine from a second process stream is concentrated by solar evaporation and/or cooled by low ambient air temperatures.

Abstract: The improved production of sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate and other valuable salts from salt plant bitterns or the like wherein initial reduction in sulfate ion concentration yields salt cake and greatly facilitates the selective recovery of potassium and other valuable by-product salts. The process includes cooling the bitterns while below a certain concentration to produce glauber salt, followed by successive solar evaporation steps to yield harvestable potash salts. The salts are selectively treated and then refined by flotation. The flotation overflow is converted to potassium sulfate product by decomposition and crystallization steps and the underflow provides a recycle salt mixture for converting the glauber salt to salt cake.

Abstract: A process for the production of low organic, low silica, anhydrous sodium carbonate comprising (a) calcining raw trona ore to produce crude sodium carbonate containing soluble and insoluble impurities, (b) admixing said crude sodium carbonate with a substantially saturated sodium carbonate solution to produce sodium carbonate monohydrate crystals containing insolubles and an impure sodium carbonate solution; (c) separating these monohydrate crystals and impurities; (d) dissolving the monohydrate crystals to produce a substantially saturated sodium carbonate solution and insolubles; (e) separating said solution from the insolubles; (f) evaporative crystallization of the separated saturated sodium carbonate solution to produce pure sodium carbonate monohydrate crystals; (g) optionally, subjecting the crystals recovered in step (f) to steps (d-f) once, but no more than once; (h) heating said monohydrate crystals to obtain low organic, low silica, anhydrous sodium carbonate product particles; and (i) optionally,

Abstract: A salting-out process for recovering lithium from brines which have been concentrated by solar or thermal evaporation. Soluble sulfate salts are added to the strong brine solutions containing lithium to yield lithium sulfate monohydrate. Subsequent treatment of some residual brines with a strong acid will crystallize quantities of boron present as boric acid. Depending on the time of year and type of brine being used, a brine solar heating or plant evaporation system is provided to enhance the recovery processes.

Abstract: Highly pure lithium chloride suitable for use in production of lithium metal by electrolysis is obtained directly from impure natural or other lithium chloride brines by an integrated process in which the brine is first concentrated by solar energy to a lithium chloride concentration of about 3%, after which the brine is treated with lime and calcium chloride to convert such impurities as boron, magnesium and sulfate to a calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate, respectively, and separating the precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate from the brine. The brine is then further concentrated to 40% or more lithium chloride by means of solar or other energy, during which concentration step the calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate precipitate from the brine. The highly concentrated brine is subjected to evaporation at a temperature above 101.degree. C. to produce anhydrous lithium chloride which is further heated to a temperature of 200.degree.

Abstract: Boron, as well as magnesium and sulfate impurities, are removed from or at least substantially reduced in a lithium containing brine to minimize lithium losses on further concentration of the brine by adding to the brine an aqueous slurry of slaked lime and a solution of calcium chloride to form a calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate, the last named compound being precipitated and separated from the brine. On further concentration of the brine, calcium boron hydrate and magnesium hydroxide precipitate and they are also removed from the brine. In an alternate procedure, the pH of the brine is adjusted to 8.0-8.4 by addition of hydrochloric acid to form a calcium borate hydrate, which on further evaporation, is also separated from the brine. The brine is then concentrated further to recover lithium values.

Abstract: Minerals are recovered from warm geothermal brines by installing a brine eductor device such as a venturi at the end of a thermally insulated drill casing. The geothermal brine is recovered by flowing a warm, low saline carrier solution at high flow rate through the device to pick up a selected flow of brine. On entering the device the geothermal brine is diluted in an amount sufficient to preclude precipitation and scaling as the mixture flows to the surface. The flow velocity is adequate to entrain any non-dissolved solids without settlement. Thermal losses to the surrounding strata are minimized by the thermal insulation surrounding the casing. The mineral values are recovered from the mixture by flashing, evaporation, and filtration. Clarified solution, filter liquor and make-up water as necessary are combined to form the low salinity carrier solution which is heated in heat exchangers before recycling to the eductor device.

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: A subterranean salt deposit is solution mined, and the resulting calcium- and sulfate-contaminated brine is treated, e.g., by soda ash, to precipitate insoluble calcium compounds. The resulting slurry is settled, and the effluent clear brine is evaporated in a series of solar ponds to produce high-grade sodium chloride.The brine becomes progressively more concentrated with respect to sodium sulfate as it moves through the solar ponds. The sulfate-enriched brine may be recycled to the solution mine, evaporated to form a sulfate-contaminated sodium chloride crystal crop, or it may be subjected to winter cooling to remove sulfate values as Glauber's salt, the residual brine being recycled to the solar ponds or the solution mine.

Abstract: A process for preparing from aqueous NaCl brine containing appreciable quantities of dissolved calcium sulfate high purity dendritic salt, characterized by an exceptionally low calcium sulfate content. The process is carried out by a "feed and bleed" procedure comprising admixing an alkali metal polyphosphate with said brine to increase the supersaturation of calcium sulfate therein, feeding the brine containing this additive into an evaporating and crystallizing chamber, evaporating the brine at an elevated temperature and reduced pressure to cause crystallization of pure salt and concomitantly bleeding brine from the chamber, the rate of feed of the brine to the chamber and the rate of bleed of brine from the chamber being such as to maintain the calcium sulfate in the dissolved state and prevent its precipitation with the salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of solution mining potassium chloride from subterranean ore deposits containing both potassium chloride and sodium chloride. By the present invention, an aqueous medium is passed through the ore deposits so that potassium chloride and sodium chloride are dissolved therein. Magnesium chloride is combined with the aqueous brine solution formed so that an aqueous brine solution containing potassium chloride, sodium chloride and magnesium chloride in specific proportions is produced, and the solubility of potassium chloride in the solution is reduced. The combined aqueous brine solution is then concentrated so that it is substantially saturated with potassium chloride, and the concentrated solution is cooled to cause the precipitation of substantially pure potassium chloride.

Abstract: Salable salt values in a complex brine are recovered by cooling to crystallize mirabilite, then using solar evaporations to recover readily processable groupings of sodium salts and potassium salts.

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: Evaporation of water from a salt-saturated liquid is facilitated by adding a particulate solid having a density greater than that of the saturated liquid, and by maintaining a thin surface layer of liquid by settlement of the solids to leave an optimum one to two mils thickness of said layer.Agitation is employed to restore the optimum thin layer, as required to overcome excessive settling or too rapid evaporation of the thin layer, referred to respectively, as a heavy layer of liquid, or a dry surface skin.