Method of producing magnesium chloride hexahydrate and other alkaline earth salts

A process for producing solidified alkaline earth salts from a starting brine containing such salts, comprising the steps of:

• passing said brine into a drying chamber;
• fluidizing said brine in said chamber by contacting said brine in the chamber with hot air for a period of from about 1-15 minutes, and heating the fluidized brine therein to a maximum temperature of from about 200.degree.-275.degree. F.;
• and
• cooling said heated brine to form said solidified salts,
• including the step of contacting said heated brine with cooling air for a period of from about 10 seconds to 3 minutes to form said solidified salts.

A process for producing solidified alkaline earth salts from a starting brine containing such salts, comprising the steps of:

• passing said brine into a drying chamber;
• fluidizing said brine in said chamber by contacting said brine in the chamber with hot air for a period of from about 1-15 minutes, and heating the fluidized brine therein to a maximum temperature of from about 200.degree.-275.degree. F.;
• and
• cooling said heated brine to form said solidified salts,
• said fluidizing step including the steps of directing said brine onto a perforated screen within said chamber, and simultaneously passing said hot air upwardly through said screen for fluidizing contact with the brine,
• said hot air contacting said brine being at a pressure of from about 5-15 in. H.sub.2 O,
• said screen having openings therein of from about 1/8-3/4 square inches.