Patent ID: 8409533

Claim:
A boundary layer carbonation process for the production of sodium bicarbonate from Trona, the process comprising the steps of: providing Trona particles having a size range between 37 microns to 500 microns inclusively; pre-wetting the Trona particles with water to provide a plurality of pre-wetted Trona particles with a liquid water film around the pre-wetted Trona particles; and boundary layer carbonating the pre-wetted Trona particles while mixing so as to counter agglomeration of the pre-wetted Trona particles and to convert the pre-wetted Trona particles into a reacted composition comprising sodium bicarbonate having a surface area between 0.4 m 2 /g and 2.5 m 2 /g with a conversion of 25% to 100% in a carbonation residence time of 2 to 45 minutes.