# US 8,784,755 B2 · Process for obtaining potassium chloride > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,755 B2 - Document ID: US8784755B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/399,771 - Filed: 2012-02-17 - Published: 2013-06-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-18 - Assignees: Vale S.A. - Applicants: Flavio Marcio de Lima Faria; Marcus de Castro Carvalho Simoes; Antonio F. Pessoa - Inventors: Flavio Marcio de Lima Faria; Marcus de Castro Carvalho Simoes; Antonio F. Pessoa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784755B2 ## CPC - C22B 26/10: Obtaining alkali metals - C01D 3/06: Preparation by working up brines; seawater or spent lyes - C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS - C01D: COMPOUNDS OF ALKALI METALS, i.e. LITHIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM, RUBIDIUM, CAESIUM, OR FRANCIUM (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; sulfides C01B17/22; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia and cyanogen, containing nitrogen and other non-metals C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; phosphides C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanic acid C01C3/14; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20) ## Abstract Aspects of the present invention relate to a process to obtain potassium chloride that includes submitting brine to concentration, separating brine after concentration, resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content, cooling the first liquid content, separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content, enriching the second solid content, and separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content. Aspects of this process are environmentally safe, as the process includes stages using solvents and equipment which does not harm the environment. Moreover, aspects of this process present a significant energy consumption reduction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for obtaining potassium chloride, comprising steps a)-f), in order: a) submitting a brine to concentration, wherein the brine is a carnallite brine; b) separating the brine after concentration resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content; c) cooling the first liquid content; d) separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content; e) enriching the second solid content; and f) separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein submitting the brine to concentration is performed through multistage evaporation. ### Claim 3 A process for obtaining potassium chloride, comprising: a) submitting a brine to concentration; b) separating the brine after concentration resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content; c) cooling the first liquid content; d) separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content; e) enriching the second solid content; and f) separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content, wherein submitting the brine to concentration is performed through thermal vapor recompression (TVR). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein submitting the brine to concentration is performed through evaporation by mechanical vapor recompression (MVR). ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The process according to claim 3, wherein submitting the brine to concentration is performed through combinations between operations of multistage evaporation and thermal vapor recompression (TVR). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein submitting the brine to concentration is performed through a combination of operations of multistage evaporation and evaporation by mechanical vapor recompression (MVR). ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The process according to claim 3, wherein submitting the brine to concentration is performed through a combination of operations of thermal vapor recompression (TVR) and evaporation by mechanical vapor recompression (MVR). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein cooling the first liquid content is carried out through vacuum cooling. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein cooling the first liquid content is carried out through cooling by means of heat exchangers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein cooling the first liquid content is carried out through a combination between vacuum cooling and cooling through heat exchangers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein enriching the second solid content is carried out through cold leaching with water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein enriching the second solid content is carried out through direct flotation of potassium chloride. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein enriching the second solid content is carried out through elutriation. ### Claim 14 A process for obtaining potassium chloride, comprising: a) submitting a brine to concentration; b) separating the brine after concentration resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content; c) cooling the first liquid content; d) separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content; e) enriching the second solid content; and f) separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content, wherein enriching the second solid content is carried out through a combination of operations of multistage evaporation and thermal vapor recompression (TVR), and operations of multistage evaporation and evaporation by mechanical vapor recompression (MVR). ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to submitting the brine to concentration, performing a brine preheating stage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process according to claim 15, wherein the brine preheating is performed by surface condensers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the separating steps b), d) and f) comprises separating solid and liquid using centrifugation or filtration.