3. Literature Survey 3.

Literature survey Salt lake brine contains various minerals such as sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, hydrogen sulfide. Salt produced must not contain these minerals more than that specified by the buyer. This requires sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate and other impurities to be separated. Production of common salt from salt lake thus involves operations such as elimination of algae from lake brine, separation of sodium sulfate and other impurities from lake brine and then the separation of sodium chloride from brine and then drying of sodium chloride (Buch et. al., 1958). There are many processes available for step 2 and 3. Most processes exploit differences in their solubility in brine to separate them out. Sodium chloride is crystallized out in all the processes and hence, it is possible to get the crystal size distribution as required by the buyer. These processes of separating sodium chloride from brine can be distinguished on the basis of means of energy supply for evaporation of brine. Some use solar energy where as some processes use artificial heat by means of steam for evaporation of brine. The skill lies in separation of sodium sulfate from sodium chloride. 3.1. Elimination of algae from brine There are various algae present in lake brine. Due to presence of algae, brine develops foul smell at the time of crystallization. Dead algae form a jelly which adheres to crystals, thus colouring the salt crystals and imparting foul smell to it. This deteriorates the quality of salt. So they must be eliminated before any processing is done on brine. One method for removing algae is adding sodium hypochlorite solution in such quantity that available chlorine will be 0.5 g per liter of brine and kept under constant stirring. The brine can be filtered to get clear solution. Passing

3. Literature Survey chlorine gas has also been reported to be convenient method for elimination of algae present in the brine (Seshadri et. al., 1957). An average dosage of 0.5 g of chlorine per liter of chlorine has been found to be effective in destroying the algae and preventing their further growth even for a year after treatment. Chorine gas can be bubbled slowly into lake brine with occasional stirring. The chlorination is carried out till the solution is slightly alkaline. The solution is then passed through filters to get clear brine. 3.2 Separation of impurities from brine 3.2.1. Hydrogen sulfide separation Hydrogen sulfide present is lowered to an acceptable operating level by aeration. An open brine trough 25 ft. long, with perforated bottom for introducing air can be used. Aeration will reduce 20 p.p.m H2S to about 2 p.p.m.(Kauffman D, 1960). 3.2.2. Calcium removal Calcium is mostly present in the form of calcium sulfate and calcium chloride. For removing calcium various strategies are there which are shown below.

Reagent used Details Reference Na2CO3 Temperature-250C; 1.8 g per liter; (Kauffman D, 1960). 90% conversion. Na2CO3 Red mud None Na2CO3 NaF Reagent used Na2CO3 NaHCO3 Added to solar salt evaporation pool Membrane separation 92% yield Temp 350C, batch time 2 h, yield 87.5% Details Yield 93.33% CA 120:138613e WO 206158 CA 105:81661c CA 105:P175257 CA 97:94860n Reference CA 105:P193855 CA 99:197420k

3.2.3 Removal of Magnesium Magnesium exists in the form of magnesium chloride.

3. Literature Survey Reagent used Details Ca(OH)2, NaOH Ca(OH)2 Red mud None None NaOH CaF2 NaOH Ca(OH)2 3.2.3. Sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate recovery Separation of sodium sulfate and sodium chloride is very difficult. Various strategies to do that are given below. Reference (Kauffman D, 1960).

CA 120:138613e Added to solar salt evaporation pool WO 206158 Membrane separation CA 105:81661c Crystallization at 0 0C CA 103:195506v Yield 97.5% CA 105:175257c Temperature 350C, batch time 2 h, yield CA 97:94860 89% CA 105:P193855 CA 101:113263k

Strategy Adsorption Floatation Solar evaporation Adsorption

Details

Na2CO3

Reference CA 112:142281x CA 117: 10901t CA 120: 138625k EP 647474

recovery Silica gel, at temp above Yes mp below 2000C SDS as floatation agent, No pH 8.5, purity 97.5% Na2SO4 crystallizes during No diurnal temp variations. Zr(OH)4.xH2O ( x=4-200) No resin, 20-900C,pH 3,

Crystallization followed

followed by desorption Allowing simultaneous No by crystallization, then

CA 101:P133343

3. Literature Survey dissolution Reaction leaching with cold water takes away NaCl with Temperature 80- 850C, pH No 3-5, yield 88% at 00C,Na2SO4 separates at100C, Na2CO3 separates At1000C,Na2SO4,Na2CO3 separate as burkeite Yes Yes CA 97:25861x Seshadri et al, (1958) Sapre et al (1959)

BaCl2 Crystallization Crystallization

Na2CO3.2Na2SO4

3.3. Separation of sodium chloride Sodium chloride is separated from purified brine by evaporation of brine. It can be done by using solar energy. Another means is to use artificial heat sources such as steam to evaporate brine (Rossiter A.P.,1986). Another method suggested is Solvent precipitation method (Ireland D.T., 1983). It uses a organic solvent which has specific heat 0.7 cal/g 0C, heat of vaporization less than 200 cal/g and more than 20% solubility in water. This solvent reduces solubility of salt in brine precipitates more than 0.15 g of NaCl for each gram of solvent added. The organic solvent is distilled from unsaturated brine is pumped back to brine well. Total energy consumed is 1300 cal/g NaCl.