Separation of purified potassium sulfate from glaserite
AssigneeSearles Valley Minerals Operations Inc.
InventorJames Logan Fairchild
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Abstract
A method can, in one general aspect, include steps for the recovery of potassium sulfate and mirabilite from glaserite. In another general aspect, a method includes dissolving glaserite in water at an elevated temperature to produce a saturated or nearly saturated solution, and cooling the solution to a temperature where potassium sulfate and mirabilite will crystallize from the solution as stable phases. In yet another general aspect, a method includes adding glaserite to a saturated solution of glaserite in water and mixing for enough time at a temperature where the glaserite will decompose into potassium sulfate and mirabilite as stable phases. In yet another general aspect, a method includes separating potassium sulfate from mirabilite using a froth floatation process.
Claims36
A method comprising dissolving glaserite in water at an elevated temperature to produce a saturated or nearly saturated solution, and cooling said solution to a temperature between about −2.7° C. and about 1.8° C. so that the glaserite in said cooled solution converts into a mixture of potassium sulfate and mirabilite both as stable crystals.
A method comprising adding glaserite to a saturated solution of glaserite in water and mixing the solution for enough time at a temperature between about −2.7° C. and about 1.8° C. so that the glaserite in said cooled solution converts into a mixture of potassium sulfate and mirabilite both as stable crystals.
A method, comprising:
- dissolving glaserite in water at an elevated temperature to produce a saturated or nearly saturated solution, and
- cooling said solution to a temperature between about −2.7° C. and about 1.8° C. so that the glaserite in said cooled solution converts into a mixture of potassium sulfate and mirabilite both as stable phases, wherein said potassium sulfate is recovered through a froth floatation process.
A process for the production of purified potassium sulfate from glaserite comprising:
- a. converting glaserite within an aqueous solution comprising glaserite into potassium sulfate and mirabilite by reducing said solution temperature to between about −2.7° C. and about 1.8° C.;
- and
- b. separating said potassium sulfate and mirabilite using a froth floatation process, wherein said froth floatation process comprises adding a sulfonated hydrocarbon to said aqueous solution, wherein said sulfonated hydrocarbon comprises from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms and is added in an amount equivalent to about 50 to 500 grams per ton of contained potassium sulfate crystals;
- and wherein said froth flotation produces a float containing predominantly potassium sulfate and a residual of non-floated material containing predominantly mirabilite.
A method, comprising:
- adding glaserite to a saturated solution of glaserite in water, and
- mixing the solution for enough time at a temperature between about −2.7° C. and about 1.8° C. so that the glaserite in the solution converts into a mixture of potassium sulfate and mirabilite both as stable phases
- wherein said potassium sulfate is recovered through a froth floatation process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.