Recovery of alkali values from trona deposits

Patent 4344650 Issued on August 17, 1982. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 15, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3119655

3184287

3498744

3780160

Process for the solution mining of subterranean sodium bicarbonate bearing ore bodies
Patent #: 3953073
Issued on: 04/27/1976
Inventor: Kube

Treatment of sodium carbonate crystallizer mother liquors
Patent #: 4039618
Issued on: 08/02/1977
Inventor: Gancy , et al.

Recovery of alkali values from trona ore
Patent #: 4285915
Issued on: 08/25/1981
Inventor: Saldick , et al.

Enhanced recovery of sodium carbonate from NaCl-containing sodium carbonate solutions Patent #: 4288419
Issued on: 09/08/1981
Inventor: Copenhafer , et al.

Inventors

Assignee

FMC Corporation

Application

No. 06/216096 filed on 12/15/1980

US Classes:

299/4, Input and output wells423/206.2Alkali carbonate from trona

Examiners

Primary: Purser, Ernest R.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Classes

E21B 43/40 (20060101)
E21B 43/00 (20060101)
E21B 43/34 (20060101)
E21B 43/28 (20060101)
C22B 3/14 (20060101)
C22B 3/00 (20060101)

Abstract

A cyclic method for recovering alkali values from subterranean trona deposits. The ore is contacted via solution mining with an aqueous mining solvent containing sodium hydroxide, the resulting Na2 CO3 -containing solution is withdrawn and carbonated, and sodium sesquicarbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate is crystallized and separated from the solution. The crystallized solids are calcined in a direct coal-fired calciner, and the resultant anhydrous soda ash is recrystallized in water to form sodium carbonate monohydrate or anhydrous sodium carbonate, which is recovered as a dense alkali product. Aqueous mining solvent is regenerated by causticization of one or more of the various liquor streams, and the recovery cycle is repeated.