Catalyst requirements in the continuous dissolution of aluminum in nitric acid were reduced significantly in a pilot plant dissolver by recirculating the dissolver effluent. At simulated plant conditions, the recirculation of dissolver effluent allowed the concentration of mercuric nitrate catalyst to be reduced by a factor of 3.2. Natural recirculation operation, demonstrated to be effective in the pilot plant, is recommended for the full-scale dissolvers in the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant in order to reduce the catalyst requirements.
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