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(71) Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour (51) Int. Cl.
Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes CI3B 20/06 (2006.01)
Georges Claude, Paris (FR) (52) U.S. Cl.
CPC ...................................... C13B 20/06 (2013.01)
(72) Inventors: Carlos Alberto CORRELA ALVES,
Lagoinha-Palmela (PT); Arnaldo (57) ABSTRACT
Manuel ESTMADE OLVERA
ARAUJJO, Lisboa (PT) The present application discloses a method for carbonation
with CO. The method now disclosed describes the use of a
(21) Appl. No.: 14/713,840 static or dynamic mixer to react the CO with the incoming of
nation liquor to whom Ca(OH) was previously added and
(22) Filed: May 15, 2015 readily starts the precipitation of tiny carbonate crystals. This
Solution can be advantageously used to compensate the deficit
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data of CO in the carbonation process. This method for carbon
ation can be applied for example in the Sugar refining indus
May 16, 2014 (EP) .................................. 14398OO4.3 try.
Patent Application Publication Nov. 19, 2015 US 2015/0329924 A1
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US 2015/0329924 A1 Nov. 19, 2015
nite. However, this document does not disclose the use of a DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
static or dynamic mixer to react with the CO in a carbonation 0045. The present application describes a method for car
step.
0022. The document GB1106276 discloses a method of bonation with CO, which can be applied as example in the
refining a raw Sugar juice comprising initial defecation-satu Sugar refining.
ration with simultaneous addition of some of the total 0046. In this method, pure CO or mixtures of CO can be
required quantity of lime and carbon dioxide in a low alkaline used advantageously to compensate the deficit of CO in the
pH range between 8 and 10. However, this document does not carbonation process, due to the fact that there is sometimes
disclose the use of a static or dynamic mixer to react with the low concentration CO in the flue gases. This will allow the
CO, used in a carbonation step. CL SUMMARY OF THE Sugar mill to fine tune the process regarding CO balance and
INVENTION will bring carbonation back into control.
0023 The present application discloses a method for car 0047. The CO used can be pure or impure, for instance
bonation comprising the following steps: coming from a CO tank or from the flue gases of any of the
0024. The affination liquor and the Ca(OH) are mixed boilers or a lime kiln or a CO concentration device, for
on a first mixed vessel; example amine Scrubber, membranes, etc.
0025 CO is added to the mixture obtained on the pre 0048. There are three ways to introduced CO, in the pro
vious step; cess in order to achieve this goal:
0026. The mixture is passed through a mixer: 0049) 1... in the flue gases;
0027 the mixture is sent to at least one carbonator 0050 2. in either stages of the carbonation;
where flue gas containing CO is injected; 0051 3. in the liquor before the carbonation process and
0028 the mixtures are then sent to a second stage with after Ca(OH) addition.
at least one carbonator where the mixture is once again 0052 Option 1 will be limited by the efficiency of carbon
injected with flue gas containing CO: ation, which is very poor since flue gases contain about 90%
0029 the liquor obtained proceeds to filtration. inert gases and the bubbling system inside creates very coarse
0030. In an embodiment, the CO, used in the method is bubbles which will create the stripping of the CO, added to
pure. the flue gas. In option 2, it is possible to consider adding CO
0031. In another embodiment, the CO used in the method inside the carbonators via a recirculation loop with a pump
1S 1mpure. and a static mixer however the CO will have to be added at
0032. In even another embodiment, the mixture of a pH lower than the incoming liquor to carbonation and as
Ca(OH), with the affination liquor used in the method com Soon as the recirculating liquid is sent again to the carbonator,
prises between 0.6 to 0.8% of Ca(OH). stripping will occur—thus reducing the efficiency of carbon
0033. In an embodiment, the residence time of the mixture ation.
in the first mixed vessel used in the method is lower than two 0053. The method now disclosed describes the use of
minutes. option 3 as it uses a static or dynamic mixer to react the CO
0034. In another embodiment, the mixer used in the with the incoming affination liquor to whom Ca(OH) was
method is static or dynamic. previously added and readily starts the precipitation of tiny
0035. In even another embodiment of the method, the pH carbonate crystals. Thus the yield of use of CO will be very
when the mixture passes through the mixer is comprised high, even if the crystals formed are very Small, i.e. the crys
between 9.6 and 10.3. tals have a dimension smaller than the filter holes diameter.
0036. In an embodiment of the method, the mixture on the 0054 If impure CO is used, the inert gases contained will
first step of injection of CO is sent to three carbonators. not react with Ca(OH) even after the mixer. In this case the
0037. In another embodiment of the method, the first stage inert gas bubbles will continue in the liquor current and will
of injection of CO is made until the pH reaches 9.5. be degassed in the carbonators.
0038. In even another embodiment of the method, the 0055. The next stages of carbonation will be preferably
second step of injection of CO, is made until the pH reaches conducted with flue gases inside the carbonators—so that
between 8.0 and 8.5. higher residence time and lower partial pressure of CO will
0039. In an embodiment of the method, it is added a food let calcium carbonate crystals continue to grow and thus
grade flocculent. entrap more of the liquor impurities. For lower partial pres
0040. In another embodiment of the method, the food Sure of CO on this application it is understood that it is a
grade flocculent is hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. pressure between 6 KPa and 12 KPa.
0041. The present application discloses also the method 0056. This crystal growth is critical to get a good filter
for Sugar refining comprising the method for carbonation ability of the liquor. If needed, a food grade flocculent like for
described. instance an acrylamide-acrylic acid resin, such as for example
hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, can be added to increase the
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES aggregation of the crystals and improve filterability.
0057 By this proposed way the sugar mill will be much
0042. The following figures provide preferred embodi less dependent on the availability of CO containing flue
ments for illustrating the description and should not be seen as gases and can adapt the carbonation process to the amount of
limiting the scope of invention. impurities present in the raw Sugar. This will mean that the
0043 FIG. 1 is a schematic of a typical carbonation system industrial can add higher amounts of Ca(OH) if he needs to
including two stages using flue gas from boilers. remove more impurities, since this higher amount will be
0044 FIG. 2 is a schematic of the inventive carbonation compensated by the “extra' CO added after Ca(OH) addi
system. tion.
US 2015/0329924 A1 Nov. 19, 2015
0058. The method comprises the following stages: and “consisting of: “comprising may therefore be replaced
0059 Mixture of the affination liquor and the Ca(OH), by "consisting essentially of or "consisting of and remain
which can be comprised between 0.6 to 0.8% of within the expressly defined scope of “comprising”.
Ca(OH), as CaO is added on liquor solids, in a first 0071 "Providing in a claim is defined to mean furnish
agitated vessel. At this point, the pH of the mixture is ing, Supplying, making available, or preparing something.
higher than 11. At this high pH, occurs degradation of The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of
the hexoses present, to degradation products of strong express language in the claim to the contrary.
colour. In order to avoid this degradation reaction, resi 0072 Optional or optionally means that the subsequently
dence time in the vessel must be reduced to less than 2 described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The
minutes; description includes instances where the event or circum
0060 CO, is added to the mixture obtained on the pre stance occurs and instances where it does not occur.
vious step; 0073 Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one
0061 The mixture is passed through a static or dynamic particular value, and/or to about another particular value.
mixer in order to promote the carbonation reaction When Such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that
between the CO with the lime till a pH comprised another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to
between 9.6 and 10.3 obtained; the other particular value, along with all combinations within
0062 the mixture can be divided in more than one first said range.
stage carbonators, where flue gas containing CO is 0074 All references identified herein are each hereby
injected and bubbled through the mixtures till a pH of incorporated by reference into this application in their entire
9.5; ties, as well as for the specific information for which each is
0063 the mixtures are then sent to a second stage with cited.
at least one carbonator where the mixture is once again What is claimed is:
injected with flue gas containing CO, till a pH of 8.5 to 1. A method for carbonation comprising the following
8.0: steps:
0064 the liquor obtained proceeds to filtration. mixing affination liquor and Ca(OH) on a first mixed
0065. The CO is added just before the mixer, since the pH vessel to provide a first mixture containing affination
of the mixture is higher on that moment, more than 11, which liquor and Ca(OH):
favours a fast and complete reaction of CO2 with Ca(OH), in adding CO to the mixture of affination liquor and Ca(OH)
comparison with the first step of carbonation with injection of at a mixer to provide a second mixture;
flue gas containing CO2, where the pH is approximately 9.5, downstream of the mixer, sending the second mixture to at
and the second step of carbonation with injection of flue gas least one first carbonator where flue gas containing CO
containing CO, where the pH is approximately 8.5 to 8.0. is injected thereinto:
0066. The technology is of course not in any way restricted downstream of said at least one first carbonator, sending
to the embodiments described herein and a person of ordinary the second mixture to at least one second carbonator
skill in the area can provide many possibilities to modifica where flue gas containing CO is injected thereinto to
tions thereofas defined in the claims. obtain a filtration liquor, and
0067. The preferred embodiments described above are filtering the filtration liquor.
obviously combinable. The following dependent claims 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the CO used is pure.
define further preferred embodiments of the disclosed tech 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the CO used is impure.
nology. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mixture con
0068 While the invention has been described in conjunc tains between 0.6 to 0.8% of Ca(OH).
tion with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the residence time of the
first mixture in the first mixed vessel is lower than two min
many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be utes.
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing
description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all Such 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixer is a static or
alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the dynamic mixer.
spirit and broad Scope of the appended claims. The present 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pH when the first
invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essen mixture is between 9.6 and 10.3.
tially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one carbon
absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is ator comprises three carbonators and flue gas containing CO
language referring to order. Such as first and second, it should is injected into each of the three carbonators.
be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting 9. The method of claim 1, whereinflue gas containing CO
sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in is injected into said at least one first carbonator until a pH
the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step. therein first reaches 9.5.
0069. The singular forms “a”, “an and “the include plu 10. The method of claim 1, flue gas containing CO, is
ral referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. injected into said at least one second carbonator until a pH
therein first reaches 8.0-8.5.
0070 "Comprising in a claim is an open transitional term
which means the Subsequently identified claim elements area 11. The method of claim 1, wherein a food grade flocculent
nonexclusive listing i.e. anything else may be additionally is added to the first or second mixture or to the filtration liquor.
included and remain within the scope of "comprising.” 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the food grade floc
“Comprising is defined herein as necessarily encompassing culent is hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
the more limited transitional terms “consisting essentially of k k k k k