pH Range to Distill the Leaching Liquor Ammoniacal Carbonate

Abstract

The pH interval was determined to distill the product liquor coming from ammoniacal - ammonium carbonates leaching process of laterites mineral. An industrial distillation tower was used, operated by means of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition EROS. The range of flow of fed liquor and of temperature at the top was of 40 m3/h and 30 ºC respectively. The ammonia concentration was variable,
as well as dioxide of carbon, sulfur and nickel of the fed liquor. The pH value of the suspension was determined for which diminishes the consumption of reagent of nickel precipitation and losses of ammonia, recommending a range among 8,10 < pH < 8,50, with a saving of 1,042 USD/(m3/h) and own loss of the range of 0,393 USD/(m3/h). The technical possibility of operating to the range of recommended pH was demonstrated, increasing the distribution of the data in norm from 28,9 % to 50 % in the period of study. To smaller concentration of sulfur in the liquor, smaller concentration of nickel and ammonia dissolve, reducing the expenses in the distillation.