Method and apparatus for producing ammonium salts

Claim 1

METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN AMMONIUM SALT OF A MINERAL ACID IN SOLID FORM AND SUBSTANTIALLY FREE FROM WATER, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF (1) PROVIDING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A MINERAL ACID HAVING AN ACID CONCENTRATION EQUIVALENT TO AT LEAST ABOUT 45% TO 65% SULFURIC ACID, (2) REACTING SAID MINERAL ACID WITH AMMONIA IN CONCENTRATED FLUID FORM TO PRODUCE A HOT SLURRY HAVING AN ACID CONCENTRATION EQUIVALENT TO AT LEAST ABOUT 18% TO 36% SULFURIC ACID, (3) INTRODUCING SAID HOT SLURRY AND ADDITIONAL AMMONIA IN CONCENTRATED FLUID FORM CONTINUOUSLY, SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND UNDER PRESSURE INTO AN ELONGATED TUTULAR REACTOR IN PROPORTIONS AND AT A RATE TO YIELD A SUBSTANTIALLY NEUTRAL SOLID PRODUCT DIRECTLY BY REACTION OF SAID SLURRY AND FLUID AMMONIA, SAID TUBULAR REACTOR HAVING A LIMITED CROSS-SECTION TO PROVIDE RAPID MOVEMENT OF REACTANTS AND REACTION PRODUCT TO ITS OUTLET END AND HAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT FOR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE REACTION AND FOR SEPARATION OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE WATER PRESENT AS VAPOR BY THE HEAT OF REACTION DURING PASSAGE THROUGH SAID REACTOR AND AT THE TIME THE REACTION MIXTURE IS EXPELLED FROM THE OUTLET END OF SAIS REACTOR WITH RELEASE OF SAID PRESSURE, AND (4) RECOVERING SAID AMMONIUM SALT IN SOLID FORM AND SUBSTANTIALLY FREE FROM WATER.