Patent ID: 8865096

Claim:
A process for the production of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate out of crushed trona ore, said process comprising: introducing crushed trona in a leaching tank containing a dissolution solution comprising sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, saturated or super-saturated in sodium bicarbonate; adding an additive selected from the group consisting of: phosphates, phospholipids, carboxylates, carboxylic acids, and combinations thereof to said dissolution solution; at least partially dissolving said crushed trona in said dissolution solution in order to produce solid particles and a production solution comprising sodium carbonate, said solid particles containing trona insoluble impurities and at least 65% by weight of sodium bicarbonate; separating said solid particles from said production solution comprising sodium carbonate; and taking at least a part of said production solution containing sodium carbonate out of said leaching tank in order to constitute a produced solution comprising sodium carbonate.