Potash Recovery from Process and Waste Brines by Solar Evaporation and Flotation

摘要

The Bureau of Mines investigated energy-efficient methods for recovering potash values from process and waste brines. Laboratory pan evaporation of four chloride brines produced crude salts containing predominantly sylvite, halite, and carnallite. Six sulfate-chloride brines produced crude salts containing primarily schoenite, kainite, leonite, sylvite, carnallite, and halite. An economic evaluation suggested a rate of return of 3 pct for a new facility and 9 pct if the process is adapted to fit an existing plant.