Carbonating tower for producing sodium bicarbonate magma

A carbonating tower for the production of sodium bicarbonate magma containing solid crystalline phase, comprising:

• a casing having an inner space;
• pipes for feeding reactants into and for removing the resultant magma and gas from said casing;
• perforated plates arranged one above another in the inner space of said casing to divide said inner space of the casing into a separation compartment and reaction compartments arranged one above another below said separation compartment;
• means for cooling the suspension accommodated in at least one of the lower reaction compartments;
• overflow pipes mounted on said perforated plates and establishing communication of said separation and said reaction compartments, each of said perforated plates having solid portions adjacent to the overflow pipe;
• an annular baffle adapted to define a zone for accumulation of solid crystalline phase in the magma, said baffle being connected in each reaction compartment to the upper end of said overflow pipe coaxially therewith and in spaced relation thereto, said baffle encircling said overflow pipe and having a lower edge located above the level of the perforated plate and below the upper end of said pipe and forming an annular space with the overflow pipe and means for removing the magma containing solid crystalline phase accumulated therein which means is arranged in proximity with said overflow pipe and adjacent said baffle and substantially below the lower edge of said baffle.