Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of removing fluoride and sulfate ions from an aqueous stream by adding calcium chloride and a source of phosphate ion to the stream to form a first precipitate of calcium sulfate and a compound of calcium, fluoride, and phosphate. The precipitate is separated from the aqueous stream and a source of carbonate ion is added to the stream to form a second precipitate which contains fluoride and calcium. The second precipitate is then separated from the aqueous stream.
Abstract:
A method for purifying hydrofluoric acid, comprising the steps of filtering the hydrofluoric acid to remove particulates, passing the filtered acid through a cation exchange material and an anion exchange material to remove ions therefrom, at least periodically automatically monitoring the acid that has passed through at least a predetermined portion of the cation exchange material for a predetermined level of cationic impurity representative of actual or impending ionic breakthrough in the cation exchange material, at least periodically automatically monitoring the acid that has passed through at least a predetermined portion of the anion exchange material for a predetermined level of anionic impurity representative of ionic breakthrough in the anion exchange material, automatically interrupting flow of acid through the anionic or cationic exchange material at or prior to the time the breakthrough in such material occurs, while the flow is interrupted, regenerating the anionic or cationic exchange material, resuming the flow after the exchange material is regenerated, passing the acid from the cationic and anionic exchange materials through an ultrafilter and into a storage container, and monitoring the level of particulate impurities in acid that has passed through the anion and cation exchange materials and automatically passing the acid in the storage container through a filter when the level of particulates exceeds a predetermined level, until the particulates are below the predetermined level. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the foregoing process.
Abstract:
A method is provided for the treatment of wastewater of pH ranging from about 1.5 to 3 containing at least about 100 ppm phosphorus as phosphate ions, at least about 50 ppm fluorine as fluoride ions and ammonia in excess of about 15 ppm NH.sub.3 (N)--T, the method comprising removing the phosphate and fluoride ions from the wastewater in a two-stage precipitation step; the first stage precipitation being conducted at a pH ranging from about 3.5 to 6.5 using an alkaline material selected from the group consisting of limestone (CaCO.sub.3) and lime [CaO or Ca(OH).sub.2 ] sufficient to form a precipitate which is removed to provide a filtrate of the wastewater which is treated in a second stage precipitation at a pH of at least about 10.5 using lime as the alkaline material sufficient to form a precipitate which is removed to provide substantially a clear effluent containing ammonia. The method also includes, if necessary, treating the ammonia-containing effluent with an alkaline material selected from the group consisting of lime and caustic sufficient to raise the pH to provide a free ammonia equivalence (FAE) of at least about 12.4; the free ammonia equivalence being determined as follows:FAE=pH+(.theta./15).sup.0.5,wherein pH is the pH value of the effluent and .theta. is the temperature of said effluent in degrees Fahrenheit. The effluent is then gas stripped to lower the total ammonia content thereof to a value of less than about 10 ppm NH.sub.3 (N)--T. The gas stripping is controlled to maintain the free ammonia equivalence of the effluent at a value of at least about 12.4, following which the stripped effluent is acidified to lower the un-ionized ammonia content to less than about 0.05 ppm NH.sub.3 (N).
Abstract:
A process is provided for removing noxious pollutants containing sulfur and/or fluorine compounds from gaseous or liquid media by adsorption of the compounds on coke. The coke is produced by conventional processes from lignite (brown coal) containing alkaline ash compounds, particularly CaO and MgO as well as possibly Na.sub.2 O, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and K.sub.2 O. The coke with adsorbed sulfur and/or fluorine pollutants is incinerated at temperatures selected from 700.degree. C. and 1050.degree. C. such that the pollutants combine chemically with the alkaline ash compounds so that the pollutants become bound in the coke ash rather than being emitted to the environment in the combustion gases.
Abstract:
Calcium fluoride is produced from pond waters resulting from phosphoric acid processing by treating the pond waters with calcium carbonate and/or calcium oxide in two stages to precipitate out the major part of the fluorine values from the waters as calcium fluoride. After removal of the calcium fluoride the filtrate is treated with calcium oxide to remove a substantial portion of the remaining fluorine values as calcium fluoride. After removal of these calcium fluoride solids, the filtrate is treated with another charge of calcium oxide to produce dicalcium phosphate (dical) which is separated from the aqueous phase. The aqueous phase is treated with an additional charge of calcium oxide to remove a substantial portion of the solids from the aqueous phase leaving waters that can be discharged as waste or recycled as process water.
Abstract:
A method of pollution abatement in the outflow of wastewater from a manufacturing plant or the like. A simultaneous precipitation of chromium and flouride contaminants is carried out with a subsequent removal of precipitates under conditions substantially reducing the volume of solids containing water to be handled.
Abstract:
Waste water containing large amounts of fluorides and ammonia and trace amounts of uranium, as is produced during the hydrolysis and ammonium hydroxide treatment of uranium hexafluoride (UF.sub.6) to produce ammonium diuranate (ADU) therefrom, is rendered suitable for cyclic reuse by initially treating the waste water with sufficient lime to precipitate substantially all of the fluorides present in the waste water to a relatively insoluble CaF.sub.2 precipitate, the treated solution is subjected to distillation to drive off ammonia for reuse in the ADU precipitation, the CaF.sub.2 precipitate is separated from the aqueous distilland leaving water with dissolved calcium, the distilland is treated by a cationic ion-exchange material to remove substantially all of the calcium and other cationic metal impurities and the resulting water containing small amounts of uranium, fluoride and ammonia is recycled to react with UF.sub.6 or to be combined with the ammonium hydroxide distillate and then treated with additional concentrated ammonium hydroxide to form a solution of the desired NH.sub.3 content for use in precipitating ADU. This recycling is most important for ecological reasons, and for cost improvement, as well as health and safety purposes.
Abstract:
Closed pond system or process for eliminating the conventional pond systems of wet process phosphoric acid complexes, and to remove fluorine process gas streams, wherein liquid effluents from wet process phosphoric acid complexes, including scrubber liquor from gas scrubbing operations of the complex, are cooled and clarified, and the liquid from the clarifier recycled to the phosphate complex, the sludge or slurry being filtered to remove solids, the solids being calcined to drive off fluorinecontaining gases. The calcined solids consist principally of sodium fluoride (NaF) which is recycled to the clarifier overflow to be mixed with the liquid returned to the phosphate complex. In the phosphate complex the liquid from the clarifier is used to scrub plant gases, and is mixed with other scrubber liquors from the plant, and recycled again to the cooling tower and clarifier. The HF in the effluent plant liquids is converted to SiF4 by maintaining an excess of SiO2, and the NaF reacts with the SiF4 to form Na2SiF6. The Na2SiF6 is calcined to produce NaF and gaseous SiF4, the latter being scrubbed with water to form H2SiF6 of commercial quality.