Patent ID: 6773483
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: C22B

Abstract:
A continuous sodium purification method for reducing the calcium content of sodium, comprising:placing unpurified liquid sodium in contact with a stream of a gas, at a temperature of at least 150Â° C., wherein the stream of the gas comprises water vapor and the gas is inert with respect to unpurified liquid sodium; adding water to the gas in a stoichiometric quantity sufficient to oxidize calcium so as to lower the content of calcium in the unpurified liquid sodium to a desired level and thereby produce purified sodium comprising the gas, hydrogen and lime; regulating a flow rate of the water according to a flow rate of the liquid sodium so as to create and/or maintain a substantially constant ratio of the flow rate of the water to the flow rate of the liquid sodium; and separating the purified sodium from the gas, the hydrogen and the lime.