Method of providing fertilizer from brines
OwnerWilliam B. Hughesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process is provided for the recovery of one or more useful products including fertilizer, salt, and/or purified process water from brines. The source of the brines can be oil field wastes, seawater, or other inland brine sources. Phosphoric acid is initially added to the brine followed by addition of ammonia or a basic form of potassium. The resulting precipitate is useful as a fertilizer. The remaining salt in the brine may then be removed and recovered along with purified process water.
Claims14
A method for recovering a fertilizer from a brine containing divalent metal cations comprising the steps of:
- (a) first adding phosphoric acid to said brine and agitating said phosphoric acid and said brine to form a mixture;
- (b) then adding ammonia to said mixture to adjust the pH of said mixture to between 4.5 and 6.0 and agitating said mixture to precipitate substantially all of the divalent metal cations contained in said mixture, the precipitate comprising divalent metal ammonium phosphates which are useful as a fertilizer;
- and
- (c) separating said precipitate from said mixture.
A method for recovering a fertilizer from a brine containing divalent metal cations comprising the steps of:
- (a) first adding phosphoric acid to said brine and agitating said phosphoric acid to form a mixture;
- (b) then adding potassium hydroxide to said mixture to adjust the pH of said mixture to between 6.0 and 7.0 and agitating said mixture to precipitate substantially all of the divalent metal cations contained in the mixture, the precipitate comprising potassium divalent metal phosphates which are useful as a fertilizer;
- and
- (c) separating said precipitate from said mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.