Common Salt Patents (Class 23/303)
  • Patent number: 11932551
    Abstract: Salt production can include preparing hydrohalite particles by crystallization from saturated brine, adding the hydrohalite particles to a salt brine, thereby forming a hydrohalite-salt brine mixture, agitating the hydrohalite-salt brine mixture until the hydrohalite particles have decomposed into NaCl crystals, and filtering out the NaCl crystals from the salt brine. In some instances, an initial temperature of the salt brine prior to adding the hydrohalite particles is at least 0° C. In some instances, a ratio of salt brine to hydrohalite particles, by weight, is from 0.4 to 29.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Tim Eisele
  • Patent number: 10184077
    Abstract: A process comprising spraying production saltwater comprising water and dissolved salt through an evaporator to evaporate a portion of the water, collecting unevaporated saltwater which is an unevaporated portion of the saltwater that remains after being sprayed through the evaporator, and adjusting a salinity of at least a portion of the unevaporated saltwater to yield an adjusted brine product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hudgens Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Hudgens
  • Patent number: 9527003
    Abstract: A production saltwater evaporation apparatus, comprising a separation and storage area comprising an iodine separation unit configured to remove iodine from production saltwater and produce saltwater, and an evaporator configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that at least some of the water in the saltwater evaporates. Included is a production saltwater evaporation apparatus, comprising a saltwater clarifying unit configured to separate metals from production saltwater and produce saltwater, and an evaporator configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that at least some of the water in the saltwater evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hudgens Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Hudgens
  • Patent number: 9181102
    Abstract: A Floating Salt Farm is a system which uses extracted seawater to reliably and regularly produce substantial amounts of crystallized salt and bittern through the evaporation process. The seawater used for the evaporation process of the Floating Salt Farm can be 1) seawater affected by volcanic activities, 2) seawater affected by spring water from thermal springs, and 3) seawater extracted from specific water depths and from specific offshore locations. The crystallized salt and bittern to be produced are affected by placing contents, such as volcanic rocks, inside the evaporator tank with the seawater during the evaporation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: PIOLI SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Lim
  • Patent number: 9005310
    Abstract: A production saltwater disposal facility comprising a separator configured to receive production saltwater from a pipeline or a vehicle and separate hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, wherein the production saltwater received from the pipeline or vehicle is substantially the same composition as when the production saltwater was located in a subterranean formation, a hydrocarbon storage tank configured to receive hydrocarbons from the separator, a settling pit configured to receive the production saltwater from the separator and separate metals and/or other solids from the saltwater, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that water in the saltwater evaporates, and a collection pit positioned under the path and configured to collect the salt from the saltwater after the water has evaporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hudgens Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Hudgens
  • Patent number: 8979948
    Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a salt product with reduced sodium content including the step of providing a concentrated brine, which is typically seawater, to which has been added potassium chloride. The mixture is transferred to a crystallizer unit where at least a portion of the mix is transferred to the crystallizer through a washing column. Liquid is evaporated from the crystallizer such that crystals form, crystals are passed from the crystallizer through said washing column to a separating unit such that in the passing through the washing column the crystals are rinsed with the brine portion being transferred as a counter current through the column. The inventive process is characterized by recycling of the brine from which the salt crystallizes, thus all main ingredients of the mixed input brine reach a steady equilibrium concentration in the mother liquor in the crystallizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Arctic Sea Minerals ehf.
    Inventors: Egill Einarsson, Eidur Helgi Sigurjonsson
  • Patent number: 8888867
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for producing sodium chloride comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a brine having a sodium chloride concentration which is higher than the sodium chloride concentration of the eutectic point but lower than the sodium chloride concentration of a saturated brine by dissolving a sodium chloride source in water; (ii) cooling the resulting brine by indirect cooling in a self-cleaning fluidized bed heat exchanger/crystallizer to a temperature lower than 0° C. but higher than the eutectic temperature of the resulting brine, thereby forming a slurry comprising sodium chloride dihydrate and a mother liquor; (iii) feeding the sodium chloride dihydrate to a recrystallizer to form sodium chloride and a mother liquor, and (iv) recycling at least part of the mother liquor obtained in step (ii) and/or step (iii) to step (i).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Wilhelmus Bakkenes, Johannes Albertus Maria Meijer, Allert Schokker, Maria Steensma
  • Patent number: 8784755
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a process to obtain potassium chloride that includes submitting brine to concentration, separating brine after concentration, resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content, cooling the first liquid content, separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content, enriching the second solid content, and separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content. Aspects of this process are environmentally safe, as the process includes stages using solvents and equipment which does not harm the environment. Moreover, aspects of this process present a significant energy consumption reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Vale S.A.
    Inventors: Flavio Marcio de Lima Faria, Marcus de Castro Carvalho Simoes, Antonio F. Pessoa
  • Patent number: 8771380
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for producing sodium chloride comprising the steps of (i) preparing a brine comprising at least 150 g/l of sodium chloride by dissolving a sodium chloride source in water, (ii) subjecting the resulting brine to a eutectic freeze crystallization step by indirect cooling of said brine, resulting in the formation of ice, sodium chloride dihydrate, and a mother liquor, (iii) separating the sodium chloride dihydrate formed in step (ii) from the ice and optionally mother liquor at the eutectic temperature, such that a sodium chloride dihydrate-rich stream is formed, and (iv) feeding said sodium chloride dihydrate-rich stream to a recrystallizer to form sodium chloride and a mother liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Wilhelmus Bakkenes, Johannes Albertus Maria Meijer, Allert Schokker
  • Patent number: 8647394
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of fabricating a CIS or CIGS thin film, comprising: forming, on a substrate, a seed particle layer comprising copper-indium-compound seed particles comprising copper (Cu); indium (In); and at least one selected from the group consisting of gallium (Ga), sulfur (S) and selenium (Se), applying, on the seed particle layer, a water-soluble precursor solution comprising: a water-soluble copper (Cu) precursor; a water-soluble indium (In) precursor; and at least one selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble gallium (Ga) precursor, a water-soluble sulfur (S) precursor and a water-soluble selenium (Se) precursor, and forming a thin film at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Min Cho, Eun-Jin Bae, Ki-Bong Song, Jeong-Dae Suh, Myung-Ae Chung
  • Patent number: 8470055
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combined process for preparing a calcined soda from a natural soda containing sodium chloride, soda and sodium sulphate, which comprises steps: (a) dissolving the natural soda to prepare an aqueous solution; (b) obtaining sodium carbonate decahydrate crystals from the natural soda solution by using a separation method of attaching crystallization; and (c) treating the obtained sodium carbonate decahydrate crystals to obtain the calcined soda. The selection to raw materials in the combined process is widened, and the associated minerals, such as sodium chloride, soda and sodium sulphate, can be separated as simple substances. The species of the obtained calcined soda and anhydrous sodium sulphate are abundant, and their purities are high. Moreover, the entire processes can be recycled, and there is no discharge of smoke, dust, waste liquid and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Huaiqi Cui
  • Patent number: 8357211
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing a salt pill for use in very low temperature adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators (ADRs). The method can include providing a thermal bus in a housing. The thermal bus can include an array of thermally conductive metal conductors. A hydrated salt can be grown on the array of thermally conductive metal conductors. Thermal conductance can be provided to the hydrated salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Peter J. Shirron, Michael J. DiPirro, Edgar R. Canavan
  • Patent number: 8282690
    Abstract: The process of the invention deals with significant improvements in salt purity and whiteness brought about through treatment of brine with alum prior to charging into crystallizers for solar salt production. The improvements realized are partly on account of elimination of suspended impurities like gypsum and clayey matter in the brine, which may otherwise be carried along with the brine in the crystallizer and finally end up in the salt, and partly due to the improved crystal size and morphology that minimizes embedded impurities in the salt. Rain washing of the heaped salt has resulted in a salt with greatly reduced calcium and sulphate impurity levels hitherto not achieved in solar salt production. Alum treatment by the process of the invention requires no additional time or infrastructure and the cost of the treatment works out to <3 U.S. cents per ton of salt. The process can be implemented in any solar salt works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Indrajit Mukhopadhyay, Pushpito Kumar Ghosh, Puthoor Mohandas Vadakke, Abdulhamid Usmanbhai Hamidani, Venkata Rama Krishna Sarma Susarla, Rahul Jasvantrai Sanghavi
  • Patent number: 8273320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making pure salt comprises recapturing post-drilling flowback water from hydro-fracturing; removing oil from the flowback water; filtering the flowback water using an ultra filter with a pore size of about 0.1 microns or less to remove solid particulates and large organic molecules, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene, from the water; concentrating the flowback water to produce a brine that contains from about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of salt relative to the total weight of the flowback brine; performing one or more chemical precipitation process using an effective amount of reagents to precipitate out the desired high quality commercial products, such as, barium sulfate, strontium carbonate, calcium carbonate; and crystallizing the chemically treated and concentrated flowback brine to produce greater than 99.5% pure salt products, such as sodium and calcium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: FracPure Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. DiTommaso, Peter N. DiTommaso
  • Patent number: 8273321
    Abstract: A three-step process for the preparation of analytical grade sodium chloride from rock salt was developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh
  • Patent number: 8226735
    Abstract: A process comprising receiving production saltwater comprising water, salt, and hydrocarbons, separating substantially all of the hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, evaporating at least some of the water in the production saltwater to obtain the salt, and collecting the salt. Also disclosed is a facility comprising a settling pit, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream along a path, and a collection pit positioned under the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Dennis Hudgens
  • Publication number: 20120097614
    Abstract: A method for treating low barium frac water includes contacting a frac water stream with a radium selective complexing resin to produce a low radium stream, passing the low radium stream through a thermal brine concentrator to produce a concentrated brine; and passing the concentrated brine through a thermal crystallizer to yield road salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Manio Silva, Hope Matis, William Leonard Kostedt, IV
  • Patent number: 8158097
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making pure salt comprises recapturing post-drilling flowback water from hydro-fracturing; removing oil from the flowback water; filtering the flowback water using an ultra filter with a pore size of about 0.1 microns or less to remove solid particulates and large organic molecules, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene, from the water; concentrating the flowback water to produce a brine that contains from about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of salt relative to the total weight of the flowback brine; performing one or more chemical precipitation process using an effective amount of reagents to precipitate out the desired high quality commercial products, such as, barium sulfate, strontium carbonate, calcium carbonate; and crystallizing the chemically treated and concentrated flowback brine to produce greater than 99.5% pure salt products, such as sodium and calcium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: FracPure Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. DiTommaso, Peter N. DiTommaso
  • Publication number: 20110214257
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for producing sodium chloride comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a brine having a sodium chloride concentration which is higher than the sodium chloride concentration of the eutectic point but lower than the sodium chloride concentration of a saturated brine by dissolving a sodium chloride source in water; (ii) cooling the resulting brine by indirect cooling in a self-cleaning fluidized bed heat exchanger/crystallizer to a temperature lower than 00 C but higher than the eutectic temperature of the resulting brine, thereby forming a slurry comprising sodium chloride dihydrate and a mother liquor; (iii) feeding the sodium chloride dihydrate to a recrystallizer to form sodium chloride and a mother liquor, and (iv) recycling at least part of the mother liquor obtained in step (ii) and/or step (iii) to step (i).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Wilhelmus Bakkenes, Johannes Albertue Maria Meijer, Allert Schokker, Maria Steensma
  • Patent number: 7892298
    Abstract: The present invention contemplates for providing a producing method which can give highly pure caustic potash in a relatively simple process, in response to the above-described demand for increased high purity in caustic potash. A method to give highly pure caustic potash containing almost no impurities of sodium, chlorine, and heavy metals, such as iron, chromium and nickel, through crystallization, by bringing an aqueous caustic potash solution having a sodium content of 200 mg/kg or less and a chlorine content of 15 mg/kg or less when calculated in terms of a weight of potassium chloride, in which a caustic potash concentration of 48% is to be a standard, into a high temperature state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toagosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsugiyoshi Osakabe, Sei Imayoshi, Mitsuharu Hamamori
  • Patent number: 7858058
    Abstract: The invention pertains to removing soluble alkali metal or ammonium salt of a divalent anion from brine comprising following steps: obtaining brine with NaCl-concentration between 150g/L and saturation in the presence or absense of a cyrstal growth inhibitor for NaCl(GCI-NaCl),or with NaCl concentration above saturation in the presence of a CGI-NaCl, said brine optionally comprising a crystal growth inhibitor for the alkali metal or ammonium salt of the divalent anion(CGI-DA); if necessary, acidify the solution to pH<11.5; if the concentration of CGI-DA is less than 20 mg/L, adding CGI-DA to obtain at least 20 mg CGI-DA/L; subjecting the solution to a membrane filtration; if the concentration of CGI-DA in the concentration from the separation is less than 20 mg/L, adding CGI-DA to obtain at least 20 mg CGI-DA/L; crystalling the concentration; removing the crystallized alkali metal or ammonium salt of the divalent anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Gerrald Bargeman, René Lodewijk Maria Demmer, Boris Kuzmanovic, Cornelis Elizabeth Johannus Van Lare, Mateo Jozef Jacques Mayer, Maarten André Irène Schutyser, Jan Barend Westerink
  • Publication number: 20080194868
    Abstract: A device and process for crystallizing a compound using hydrodynamic cavitation comprising the steps of mixing at least one stream of a solution of such compound to be crystallized with at least one stream of an anti-solvent and passing the mixed streams at an elevated pressure through a local constriction of flow to create hydrodynamic cavitation thereby causing nucleation and the direct production of crystals. The compound to be crystallized can be, for example, an active pharmaceutical ingredient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Oleg V. Kozyuk
  • Patent number: 7186394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process to produce brine of improved purity wherein a salt source, contaminated with sulphate ions and alkaline (earth) metal ions, is dissolved in water in the presence of an effective amount of a retarding agent comprising at least one low and at least one high molecular weight retarding agent. Said retarding agent effectively reduces the level of the alkaline (earth) metal sulphate dissolved in the brine, particularly the amount of calcium and sulphate. Preferably, the combination of the low and high molecular weight retarding agents is synergetic in the reduction of dissolved alkaline-earth metal sulphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Mateo Jozef Jacques Mayer, René Lodewijk Maria Demmer
  • Patent number: 7014832
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Rajinder Nath Vohra, Pushpito Kumar Ghosh, Ashokkumar Bhagvanjibhai Kasundra, Himanshu Labhshanker Joshi, Rohit Harshadray Dave, Maheshkumar Ramniklal Gandhi, Kaushik Jethalal Langalia, Koushik Halder, Sohan Lal Daga, Ramjibhai Devjibhai Rathod, Hasina Hajibhai Deraiya, Purashottambhai Ravajibhai Jadav, Vadakke Puthoor Mohandas, Abdulhamid Usmanbhai Hamidani
  • Patent number: 6896807
    Abstract: A method for recovering and recycling expensive and hazardous components from capacitors containing an electrolyte salt dissolved in an aprotic organic solvent. The method includes disintegrating a plurality of capacitor casings and their contents into fragments and forming an aqueous slurry of water insoluble fragments, filtering fractionally distilling the filtrate to remove the solvent as a distillate and recovering the electrolyte salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Toxco Inc
    Inventors: W. Novis Smith, Terry Adams
  • Patent number: 6890509
    Abstract: A new process for recovery of Low Sodium Salt from bittern has been described in the present invention, the said process comprising desulphatation of bittern (by-product of salt industry), evaporation of bittern in solar pans and processing of solid mixture with water to produce a mixture of sodium and potassium chlorides and optionally preparing “free flowing” and iodized, by known techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Rajinder Nath Vohra, Pushpito Kumar Ghosh, Maheshkumar Ramniklal Gandhi, Himanshu Labhshanker Joshi, Hasina Hajibhai Deriya, Rohit Harshadray Dave, Koushik Halder, Kishorkumar Manmohandas Majeethia, Sohan Lal Daga, Vadakke Puthoor Mohandas, Rahul Jasvantrai Sanghavi
  • Patent number: 6649027
    Abstract: A water reclamation system for a closed environment includes a mixer that receives brine. A processor is downstream of the mixer, with the processor distilling substantially salt-free water from the brine in the substantial absence of salt crystallization. A crystallizer subsystem is downstream of the processor, with the crystallizer subsystem crystallizing salt from the brine and recycling the brine to the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Kent MacKnight, Alex M. Lubman
  • Publication number: 20030108482
    Abstract: A method for the production of Na Cl or an aqueous Na Cl solution from sea-water or brine comprising contacting sea-water or brine with a waste product from the Bayer process used for the production of aluminium, known as red mud. In the production of Na Cl, red mud can be added to solar salt evaporation pools to remove impurities such as magnesium and calcium, resulting in the production of purified Na Cl crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Byron James Deveson
  • Patent number: 6500216
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Masakatsu Takayasu
  • Patent number: 6478828
    Abstract: A process for crystallization of an inorganic substance includes preparing a supersaturated solution of the inorganic substance to be crystallized in a solvent which is a liquid; forcing a stream of the supersaturated solution upwardly through successively a fluidized bed distributor of a fluidized bed reactor and a bed of crystals arranged above the fluidized bed distributor with a pressure effective to cause fluidization of the bed of crystals, the fluidized bed distributor dividing the stream of supersaturated solution into thin, substantially parallel and vertical jets; maintaining the fluidized bed distributor at a temperature which is uniform and at which the inorganic substance to be crystallized from the supersaturated solution is lower than or equal to the concentration corresponding to saturation; and controlling the temperature of the fluidized bed distributor to cause the stream of supersaturated solution in the fluidized bed distributor to undergo a temperature change which is insufficient to des
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Solvay & Cie (Société Anonyme)
    Inventors: Léon Ninane, Léopold Detry
  • Patent number: 6267789
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Solvay (Société Anonyme)
    Inventor: Léon Ninane
  • Patent number: 6210803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of an electrolyte and acetic acid granulate for making a hemodialysis solution, the granulate comprising the electrolytes potassium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, and the method comprising preparing the granulate and adding a desired quantity of acetic acid. The granulate, which is easy to process and has free flow capability, is made by crushing the electrolyte salts to a grain size of less than 0.5 mm and subsequently granulating the electrolyte salts in a dry gas atmosphere to a granulate having a grain size of 1 to 10 mm and a pore volume of more than 25 percent by volume. Subsequently, the acetic acid is added to the granulate, preferably by spraying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wendelin Backhaus, Peter Hilgers, Joachim Manke, Hamadi El-Ayari, Werner Liedy
  • Patent number: 6027607
    Abstract: A process for extracting salt from brine contained in at least one open evaporation basin. At least part of the brine is heated in a heating unit located outside the evaporation basis and returned to the evaporation basin. The heating unit is driven by waste heat from a recooling industrial plant. According to this process, climatic values and the degree of recooling are measured and evaluated in a control unit. At least part of the heated brine and some non-heated brine are sprayed by a spraying device of the evaporation basin. The amount of sprayed brine is regulated by the control unit depending on the measured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Krebs & Co. AG
    Inventor: Vicente Gracia Corniel
  • Patent number: 5984981
    Abstract: A salt making method comprising putting a crude salt-water mixture (5) comprising crude salt or rock salt and bittern in a vessel (1), blowing the air from a pipe (7) into the mixture (5) with a pump (9), crystallizing the component salt out of the mixture (5), and precipitating the salt as a common salt (S) at the bottom of the vessel (1). The remainder of the mixture (5) is discharged through a filter (13) into a tank (17), where it is stored as a concentrated brine (15), which is then discharged through a filter layer (16) and a drain (18), and crude salt is dissolved therein to recycle as a crude salt-water mixture. The concentrated brine (15) may be used after being mixed with the extracts of aloe, mozuku (Nemacystis decipiens), rice bran, etc. The air may be blown into the mixture (5) under heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Showa Miyagi
    Inventor: Showa Miyagi
  • Patent number: 5846501
    Abstract: In order to recover in an environmentally sound and economic manner used hardening shop salts which contain nitrate-nitrite, the salts, comminuted to particle sizes of from 1 to 50 mm, are dissolved in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide without nitrogen oxides arising, and, by evaporation and cooling, potassium nitrate, sodium chloride, and sodium nitrate are obtained sequentially by fractional crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Durferrit GmbH Thermotechnik
    Inventors: Matthias Kremer, Georg Wahl, Eberhard Gock, Stefan Wigger, Jorg Kahler
  • Patent number: 5769906
    Abstract: The process for environmentally acceptable and economical recovery of chloride salts from hardening-shop used salts utilizing the steps of leaching of the used salt, detoxification of the cyanide and selective crystallization of the individual chloride salts. The process is characterized in that all the chloride salts that are present in the hardening-shop used salt are recovered in pure form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Durferrit GmbH Thermotechnik
    Inventors: Mattias Kremer, Georg Wahl, Eberhard Gock, Stefan Wigger, Jorg Kahler
  • Patent number: 5651796
    Abstract: A low bulk density hollow fine powder of alkali metal compound can be produced from an aqueous solution of the compound by one step. The method for producing a low bulk density hollow fine powder of alkali metal compound according to the present invention comprises a step of contacting an aqueous solution of an alkali metal compound with a pulsating combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Osaka Fuji Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuyoshi Kubotani, Osamu Ishibashi, Koichi Ono
  • Patent number: 5478515
    Abstract: A water soluble dicarboxylic acid acts as a mold release agent for salt blocks when it is sprayed as a fine powder into the block press mold box just prior to a charge of salt. The acid has from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; adipic acid is a preferred release agent. The salt block having a layer of the acid on it surface may be used in water softening systems wherein the block sits in a brine reservoir and supplies salt for the recharging of an ion exchange resin. There is no build up of an unsightly scum on the surface of the brine and on the sides of the reservoir as there has been with the use of calcium stearate as the release agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Waatti, Richard A. Bychowski
  • Patent number: 5474581
    Abstract: Method for producing an industrial aqueous sodium chloride solution (22) in which an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (20) containing polyvalent metals and constituting a mother liquor obtained from the precipitation (14) of hydroxides of said metals from an aqueous solution (6) of hydrochloric acid is obtained from washing (3,4) fumes (1) containing hydrogen chloride and originating from the oxidation of chlorinated products, is treated on a chelating Na-type resin. The aqueous sodium chloride solution obtained in this manner has applications in the production of aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions by means of electrolysis or electrodialysis and in the production of sodium chloride crystals by means of evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Leon Ninane, Jean-Francois Adam
  • Patent number: 5447543
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Exportadora De Sal, S.A. De C.V.
    Inventor: Abraham Sadan
  • Patent number: 5395559
    Abstract: A process for the production of explosives grade ammonium nitrate prill (EGAN) comprises the steps of(A). producing seed ammonium nitrate prill as substantially monosized prills; and then(B). fattening using melt/solution of ammonium or mixed nitrates, with drying and thermal treatments, the seed prill in an inclined rotating jacketed pan granulator or a cascade of such pans to produce a final fattened EGAN prill product preferably having at most about 4 mm diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignees: Imperial Chemical Industries, PLC, ICI Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Aida Kaldas, Raymond Oliver
  • Patent number: 5366514
    Abstract: This invention relates to an evaporative salt plant installation including methods of operation and apparatus which produce high purity salt economically and in high yield comprising the combination of a gas turbine which drives a vapor compressor, whose exhaust gases are used to produce steam to drive a topping steam turbine generator, which in turn generates the electrical energy requirements of the plant, and wherein the discharge vapors from the steam turbine are combined with the discharge vapors from the vapor compressor, which is in turn in combination with a vapor compression evaporator and a purge evaporator, whereby both evaporators produce salt, and where the overhead vapors of the purge evaporator are used in a brine cooled condenser to preheat input cold brine, thereby producing water condensate which is recovered, along with evaporator steam chest condensate streams, and used in solution mining underground salt, thereby allowing for both the productive use and recovery of substantially all the r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Brine Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence F. Becnel, Jr., John E. Currey, Raymond W. Ver Hoeve
  • Patent number: 5330618
    Abstract: A process and system for treating aluminum salt cake containing water soluble halide salts by contacting the salt cake with water to dissolve water soluble halide salts forming a saturated brine solution. Transporting a portion of about 25% of the saturated brine solution to a reactor and introducing into the saturated brine solution at least an equal volume of a water-miscible low-boiling organic material such as acetone to precipitate a portion of the dissolved halide salts forming a three-phase mixture of an aqueous-organic-salt solution phase and a precipitated salt phase and an organic rich phase. The precipitated salt phase is separated from the other phases and the organic rich phase is recycled to the reactor. The remainder of the saturated brine solution is sent to a multiple effect evaporator having a plurality of stages with the last stage thereof producing low grade steam which is used to boil off the organic portion of the solution which is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: University of Chicago
    Inventors: Edward J. Daniels, Bassam J. Jody, Patrick V. Bonsignore
  • Patent number: 5300123
    Abstract: A method of reducing soluble and insoluble impurity levels while increasing the size of water soluble salt crystals which includes an initial step of fine grinding followed by regrowth in a saturated solution of the salt subjected to agitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Inventor: Gerald J. Grott
  • Patent number: 5296000
    Abstract: Process and installation for crystallising an inorganic substance in a fluidised bed of crystals (14), which is generated by subjecting a solution supersaturated in the substance to be crystallised to an ascending circulation across a distributor (12), located below the bed (14), of a fluidised-bed reactor, a fraction (22) of the supersaturated solution being taken off upstream of the distributor (12) and being recycled downstream of the distributor (12) into the fluidised bed (14) or into the mother liquor from the crystallisation, and the mother liquor being supersaturated for reconstituting the said supersaturated solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Jacques Darmont, Leopold Detry
  • Patent number: 5221528
    Abstract: In a purification process for brine, impurities such as calcium, magnesium and/or sulphate are precipitated by the addition of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2) and sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3). Following NaCl crystallization by evaporation of the brine, a mother liquor is obtained which still contains among others sulphate, potassium and bromide ions. Further concentration of this mother liquor by evaporation results in the precipitation of both NaCl and Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and a more strongly concentrated mother liquor with respect to both potassium and bromide remains. This concentrated mother liquor is drained off. Either the precipitated NaCl and Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 are dissolved in water or the Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 is dissolved in purified brine or crude brine and then returned to the brine purification process, thereby lowering both the potassium and bromide ion levels in the purified brine. As a consequence the contents of both potassium and bromide of the NaCl are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Akzo N.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Jongema
  • Patent number: 5169406
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of preparing brine by dissolving salt in water, the salt containing sodium chloride but also calcium sulfate and/or other soluble impurities with a slower dissolution rate than sodium chloride, wherein the salt is supplied to a vessel including a grid for supporting a salt bed, water is supplied and flows through and wets at least a portion of the salt bed before it flows through the grid, whereby small solid particles form and pass through the grid whereafter they are separated from the solution, said small particles containing essentially no sodium chloride.The invention further concerns a device for making brine by dissolving salt in water, which device comprises a vessel containing a grid support, means for supplying solid salt, means for supplying water, means for the outflow of brine, and means for removing undissolved salt particles at the bottom of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Eka Nobel AB
    Inventor: Mohan P. Tewari
  • Patent number: 5021079
    Abstract: Sodium chloride in a flat tetrahedronal crystal form and an aqueous solution containing (i) sodium chloride in a flat tetrahedronal crystal form or sodium chloride capable of converting to a flat tetrahedronal crystal form and (ii) iron chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Techno-Bio Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Nakane
  • Patent number: 4950310
    Abstract: X-ray crystalline sodium silicates having a sheet structure and an SiO.sub.2 :Na.sub.2 O molar ratio of 1.9 to 3.5 are prepared by dissolving an X-ray crystalline sodium silicate having a sheet structure and an SiO.sub.2 /Na.sub.2 O molar ratio of 1.9:1 to 3.5:1 in water and evaporating the solution at temperatures of 20.degree. to 445.degree. C.For the preparation of detergents or cleaners, a mixture of surfactants and builders, which may also contain fillers, bleaching agents, bleach activators and enzymes, is made into a paste with water, mixed with an X-ray crystalline sheet sodium silicate having an SiO.sub.2 /Na.sub.2 O molar ratio of 1.9:1 to 3.5:1, mixed thoroughly and then spray-dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Rieck, Martin Schott, Willy Ott, Werner Gohla
  • Patent number: 4797981
    Abstract: Process for the production of salt in which sodium chloride is crystallized in the form of spheres by evaporation of a sodium chloride brine and the spheres obtained are then broken up. The salt produced by the process is particularly suitable for the food industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Solvay & Cie (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Leon Ninane, Claude Breton