Method for kraft waste reclamation

A method for obtaining particulate calcium carbonate having an average particle size less than about 12 microns, comprising the steps of:

• withdrawing from a pulp mill a mixture containing calcium carbonate;
• segregating the particulate calcium carbonate from the mixture containing calcium carbonate within the pulp mill prior to withdrawing the particulate calcium carbonate from the pulp mill;
• and
• recovering from the segregated particulate calcium carbonate, a particulate calcium carbonate having an average particle size less than about 12 microns.

A method for optimizing the operation of the recausticizing cycle in a pulp mill, comprising the steps of:

• withdrawing from the pulp mill recausticizing cycle a mixture containing particulate calcium carbonate;
• injecting an effective amount of a fresh calcium containing compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate, into the recausticizing cycle to replace the withdrawn mixture;
• treating the withdrawn mixture to substantially remove contaminants in the mixture to produce a treated calcium carbonate mixture;
• and
• recovering from the treated calcium carbonate mixture a particulate calcium carbonate having an average particle size less than about 12 microns.

A method for adjusting and enhancing the pH of soil, comprising the steps of:

• withdrawing from a pulp mill a mixture containing calcium carbonate;
• treating the mixture to produce a substantially contaminant free treated mixture containing particulate calcium carbonate having an average particle size less than about 12 microns;
• admixing an effective amount of water to the treated mixture containing calcium carbonate having an average particulate size of less than about 12 microns to provide a sprayable calcium carbonate slurry;
• and
• spraying an effective amount of the sprayable calcium carbonate slurry onto the soil to penetrate the soil to a predetermined depth in order to adjust the pH of the soil.