Method of and installation for the continuous extraction of magnesium with milk of lime from sea waters and the like

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS RECOVERY OF THE MAGNESIUM VALUES FROM SEA-WATER AND LIKE BRINES WITH MILK OF LIME WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING WATER CONTAINING DISSOLVED MAGNESIUM SALTS INTO A REACTION ZONE ALONG WITH MILK OF LIME TO EFFECT THE PRECIPITATION OF INSOLUBLE MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE IN SAID ZONE, CONTINUOUSLY AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF SAID ZONE AND BRINGING SAID CONTENTS INTO CONTACT WITH SUPERSONIC VIBRATIONS ACTING IN THE DIRECTION OF PRECIPITATION OF SAID INSOLUBLE HYDROXIDE, CONTINUOUSLY TRANSFERRING SAID WATER CONTAINING THE PRECIPITATED INSOLUBLE MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE INTO AN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT DECANTING ZONE BY OVERFLOW FROM SAID REACTION ZONE TO SAID DECANTING ZONE, CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING WATER SUBSTANTIALLY FREE FROM SAID MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE BY OVERFLOW FROM THE TOP OF SAID DECANTING ZONE, AND WITHDRAWING THE PRECIPITATED HYDROXIDE AT INTERVALS FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID DECANTING ZONE.