Solution mining of trona or nahcolite ore with aqueous NaOH and HCl solvents

Patent 4498706 Issued on February 12, 1985. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 15, 2003. 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

3184287

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

Electrodialytic process
Patent #: 4219396
Issued on: 08/26/1980
Inventor: Gancy , et al.

Electrodialytic process for the conversion of impure soda values to sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide
Patent #: 4238305
Issued on: 12/09/1980
Inventor: Gancy , et al.

Preparing alkali metal hydroxide by water splitting and hydrolysis Patent #: 4391680
Issued on: 07/05/1983
Inventor: Mani , et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Intermountain Research & Develop. Corp.

Application

No. 06/523486 filed on 08/15/1983

US Classes:

299/5, Dissolving or chemical reaction204/537, Using bipolar membrane23/302T, Sodium compounds423/206.2Alkali carbonate from trona

Examiners

Primary: Novosad, Stephen J.
Assistant: Kisliuk, Bruce M.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Egolf; Christopher

International Classes

E21B 43/00 (20060101)
E21B 43/28 (20060101)
B01D 61/42 (20060101)
B01D 61/44 (20060101)

Abstract

Separate deposits of trona or nahcolite ore are solution mined with two solvents, aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous hydrogen chloride. Aqueous sodium carbonate solution is withdrawn from the region of the NaOH-treated ore deposit, for recovery of soda ash. Aqueous sodium chloride brine is withdrawn from the region of the HCl-treated ore deposit and introduced to an electrodialysis cell to regenerate the two solvents and thereby continue the solution mining cycle.