Inventors:
Robert J. Brison - Arvada CO
Michael E. Webber - Martinez CA
Assignee:
Stauffer Chemical Company - Westport CT
International Classification:
C22B 2610, B03C 700, B03C 100, C01D 3124
Abstract:
Soda ash is produced from crude trona ore in a novel process which comprises
(a) reducing the ore particle size to a maximum of about 4. 0 millimeters in diameter,
(b) removing fines from the ore to produce a minimum particle size of about 0. 1 millimeter in diameter,
(c) differentially electrifying the ore particles according to differences in conductance,
(d) segregating the ore particles by electrostatic separation into at least two fractions according to the differences in electrical charge resulting from the electrification of step (c), and
(e) calcining the fraction of least conductance to convert the trona contained therein to soda ash,
steps (a) through (d) occurring at a temperature not to exceed about 100. degree. C.