Method of producing naturally purified salt products
AssigneeCargill, Incorporated
InventorsMatthew L. Bollinger, Nicole M. Durch, Robert Sung Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a method for producing a naturally purified salt product such as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, wherein the salt mixture is treated with a solution comprising magnesium chloride; the first slurry is separated to provide a second slurry, which is further separated to yield a first liquid stream; the first liquid stream is crystallized to provide the naturally purified salt product. In another embodiment, a high purity salt product is produced. In another embodiment, other products that are produced include naturally purified sodium chloride and magnesium chloride.
Claims20
A method for producing a naturally purified salt product from a salt mixture comprising the naturally purified salt product and sodium chloride, comprising the steps of:
- a. treating the salt mixture with a solution at an elevated temperature to form a first slurry, wherein at least a portion of the solution comprises magnesium chloride;
- b. a first separating of the first slurry to yield a first solid and a second slurry, wherein at least a portion of the first solid comprises sodium chloride;
- c. a second separating of the second slurry to yield a second solid and a first liquid stream;
- d. crystallizing a third solid in the first liquid stream to yield a third slurry, and
- e. a third separating of the third slurry to yield a second liquid stream and a third solid, wherein at least a portion of the second liquid stream comprises magnesium chloride, and wherein the third solid comprises a naturally purified salt product.
A method for producing a high purity salt product from a salt mixture, comprising the naturally purified salt product and sodium chloride, comprising the steps of:
- a. treating the salt mixture with a first solution at an elevated temperature to form a first slurry, wherein at least a portion of the solution comprises magnesium chloride;
- b. a first separating of the first slurry to yield a first solid and a second slurry, wherein at least a portion of the first solid comprises sodium chloride;
- c. a second separating of the second slurry to yield a second solid and a first liquid stream;
- d. a first crystallizing of a third solid in the first liquid stream to yield a third slurry;
- e. a third separating of the third slurry to yield a second liquid stream and the third solid, wherein at least a portion of the second liquid stream comprises magnesium chloride;
- f. dissolving the third solid in a second solution to yield a third liquid stream;
- g. a second crystallizing of a fourth solid in the third liquid stream to yield a fourth slurry;
- and
- h. a fourth separating of the fourth slurry to yield a fourth liquid stream and the fourth solid, wherein at least a portion of the fourth liquid stream comprises magnesium sulfate, and wherein the fourth solid comprises a high purity salt product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.