Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
In the process of making sodium carbonate from trona by crushing the trona, calcining the crushed trona, dissolving the calcined trona comprising sodium carbonate, insoluble impurities and soluble silicates in an aqueous medium, followed by separation of insoluble impurities to obtain a sodium carbonate solution, the improvement which comprises: (a) segregating the calcined trona into a coarse particle size fraction and a fine particle size fraction; (b) separately dissolving the coarse and the fine particle size fractions in aqueous media to obtain solutions comprising sodium carbonate, soluble silicates and insoluble impurities; and (c) digesting the aqueous sodium carbonate solution obtained from the fine particle size fraction at a temperature above about 160° F. for time sufficient to insolubilize soluble silicates, and separating the digested solution from insoluble impurities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
In the process of making sodium carbonate from trona by crushing the trona, calcining the crushed trona, dissolving the calcined trona comprising sodium carbonate, insoluble impurities and soluble silicates in an aqueous medium, followed by separation of insoluble impurities to obtain a sodium carbonate solution, the improvement which comprises: (a) segregating the calcined trona into a coarse particle size fraction and a fine particle size fraction; (b) separately dissolving the coarse and the fine particle size fractions in aqueous media to obtain solutions comprising sodium carbonate, soluble silicates and insoluble impurities; and (c) digesting the aqueous sodium carbonate solution obtained from the fine particle size fraction at a temperature above about 160° F. for time sufficient to insolubilize soluble silicates, and separating the digested solution from insoluble impurities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement of claim 1 with the additional steps of adding to the solution of fine particle size fraction calcined trona for the digestion step insoluble impurities which have been separated from a solution of fine particle size fraction in a previous operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein soluble impurities segregated from a solution of fine particle size fraction in a previous operation are added to the solution of fine particle size fraction calcined trona in amount sufficient to establish insolubles concentration in such solution containing added insolubles of from about 15 to about 40% by weight, basis the Na 2 CO 3 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein the trona had been calcined at temperature between about 250° and 400° F., and wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona substantially passes through 60 mesh screen (Tyler).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona comprises calciner dust.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona comprises calciner dust.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein the trona had been calcined at temperature between about 250° and 400° F., and wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona substantially passes through 60 mesh screen (Tyler).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona substantially passes through 60 mesh screen (Tyler).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein the trona had been calcined at temperature between about 250° and 400° F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 9 wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona comprises calciner dust.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona comprises calciner dust.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The improvement of claim 1 with the additional step of adding to the solution of coarse particle size fraction calcined trona insoluble impurities which have been separated from a solution of said fine particle size fraction calcined trona and digesting said solution of coarse particle size fraction calcined trona containing such added insoluble impurities at temperature above about 160° F. for time sufficient to insolubilize soluble silicates and separating the digested solution from insoluble impurities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein the trona had been calcined at temperature between about 250° and 400° F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona comprises calciner dust.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
175 words
The improvement of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a) segregating the calcined trona into a coarse particle size fraction being substantially retained on 60 mesh screen (Tyler) and a fine particle size fraction substantially passing through 60 mesh (Tyler); (b) separately dissolving the coarse and the fine particle size fractions in aqueous media comprising sodium carbonate to obtain solution comprising sodium carbonate, soluble silicates and insoluble impurities; (c) adding to the solution of fine particle fraction insoluble impurities which had been separated from a solution of fine particle size fraction in a previous operation in amount sufficient to establish insolubles concentration in said solution containing added insolubles of about 15 to about 40% by weight, basis the Na 2 CO 3 ; (d) digesting the aqueous sodium carbonate solution obtained from the fine particle size fraction containing the added insoluble impurities at a temperature within the range of 160° and 220° F. for time sufficient to insolubilize soluble silicates, separating the digested solution from insoluble impurities, and obtaining separated insoluble impurities to step (c).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 15 wherein the fine particle size fraction calcined trona comprises calciner dust.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the trona had been calcined at temperature between about 250° and 400° F.