Patent ID: 8591852
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: C01D

Abstract:
1. A method of producing soda ash and calcium chloride, comprising the steps of: providing a source of brine; providing a source of gaseous ammonia; ammoniating brine with gaseous ammonia to form ammoniated brine; heating limestone to produce calcium oxide and carbon dioxide; reacting the ammoniated brine with the carbon dioxide produced by the step of heating the limestone to produce sodium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride and a brine effluent; calcining the sodium bicarbonate to decompose the sodium bicarbonate to produce soda ash and gaseous carbon dioxide; reacting the calcium oxide with the ammonium chloride and brine effluent to produce calcium chloride, brine effluent, and ammonia; wherein said step of reacting the calcium oxide with the ammonium chloride and brine effluent comprises reacting dry calcium oxide with the ammonium chloride and brine effluent without slaking the calcium oxide produced by heating the limestone; recycling the ammonia to be used in the step of ammoniating the brine; and recycling the water from the brine effluent to be used in the step of ammoniating the brine by crystallizing sodium chloride from the mixture of calcium chloride and brine effluent, separating the crystallized sodium chloride from the effluent by centrifuging the effluent, and recycling the crystallized sodium chloride; evaporating any water remaining to produce water vapor; recovering the produced calcium chloride; recycling the water vapor and condensing into water; wherein the crystallized sodium chloride is further used for the providing of fresh brine by combining with the condensed water to continue the method; collecting the produced calcium chloride; separating residual salt; and forming an approximately 77 wt % solution of calcium chloride flakes.