Solution mining of carbonate/bicarbonate deposits to produce soda ash

Patent 6251346 Issued on June 26, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 20, 2017. 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

1396841

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Inventors

Assignee

Tg Soda Ash, Inc.

Application

No. 914990 filed on 08/20/1997

US Classes:

423/206.2, Alkali carbonate from trona23/302T, Sodium compounds299/4, Input and output wells299/5, Dissolving or chemical reaction423/421, Alkali metal containing (Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs)423/422Hydrogen containing (bicarbonate)

Examiners

Primary: Straub, Gary P.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Trask Britt, Baker; Patrick C.

Foreign Patent References

15822 GB. 07/13/1892
883202 GB. 11/13/1961
1 495 530 GB. 12/13/1977
2 098 973 GB. 12/13/1982

International Class

C01D 007/12

Abstract

A solution mining process for recovering sodium values from an underground deposit of a sodium bicarbonate containing ore is disclosed. The process involves contacting the ore with an aqueous sodium carbonate-containing solution to produce a dilute brine which is stripped with steam to reduce the bicarbonate content and increase the carbonate content. The dilute carbonate/bicarbonate solution from the stripper is fed to a sodium carbonate decahydrate crystallizer to produce pure sodium carbonate decahydrate crystals and a mother liquor containing less than about 4% sodium bicarbonate.

Other References

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ZA 87-9599 871222 South African Patent (Abstract Only: Chemical Abstract No. 110:176149), No Dat