Mechanism and kinetics of gibbsite-seeded sodium aluminosilicate crystallisation from synthetic spent Bayer liquor

摘要

Despite a significant number of studies having been carried aimed at developing strategies for scale inhibition during the Bayer process, particularly in heat exchanger systems, there is still limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms and kinetics of scaling, in particular for single stream plants. The aim of this study was to further this understanding for sodium aluminosilicate crystallisation in spent Bayer liquor seeded with gibbsite. Gibbsite is present in pre-desilicated bauxite which is mixed with spent liquor and then passes through the heat exchanger system in single stream Bayer plant circuits.