A process for treating a sulfurous fluid to form gypsum and magnesium carbonate, whereby the sulfurous fluid is scrubbed with a sequestrating agent to yield a scrubbed fluid, gypsum and magnesium sulfate. The flue gas desulfurized gypsum is isolated from the magnesium sulfate solution by filtration or centrifugation. The magnesium sulfate is reacted with a carbonate salt to produce a magnesium carbonate whereby the reaction conditions are controlled to control the properties of the magnesium carbonate produced.

A basic oxygen furnace slag treatment method includes the steps of mixing basic oxygen furnace slag with an active aqueous solution and then keeping the mixture thus obtained under an enclosed environment for reaction and then employing a solid-liquid separation procedure to separate solid phase from liquid phase. Since basic oxygen furnace slag has strong alkaline, the method of the invention overcomes the problem that directly discharging basic oxygen furnace slag will cause environmental pollutions. The basic oxygen furnace slag treatment method avoids a secondary pollution, and can turn waste into treasure, bringing a number of economic benefits.

A basic oxygen furnace slag treatment method includes the steps of mixing basic oxygen furnace slag with an active aqueous solution and then keeping the mixture thus obtained under an enclosed environment for reaction and then employing a solid-liquid separation procedure to separate solid phase from liquid phase. Since basic oxygen furnace slag has strong alkaline, the method of the invention overcomes the problem that directly discharging basic oxygen furnace slag will cause environmental pollutions. The basic oxygen furnace slag treatment method avoids a secondary pollution, and can turn waste into treasure, bringing a number of economic benefits.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED:

In an apparatus for synthesizing methane from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, a device which is capable to remove the reaction heat and lower the reaction temperature as the reaction progresses in order to increase the conversion ratio to methane has been desired.

SOLUTION:

In the present invention, powders of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate, which are chemical heat storage agents, are used as part of the fluidizing medium of the multi-stage fluidized bed in the temperature range where the methanation reaction proceeds. The heat generated during the methanation reaction can be absorbed and stored in the powder. At this time, carbon dioxide generated from magnesium carbonate can be used as a raw material gas for the methanation reaction. Furthermore, after discharging the magnesium oxide generated by endotherm, the powder can be regenerated with an external regenerating facility and then the storage heat can be released and recovered. The regenerated powder can be fed to the uppermost stage of the multi-stage fluidized bed at a temperature lower than the internal temperature of the reactor to lower inside temperature. This made it possible to lower the reaction temperature of ascending reaction gas in the reactor along with the reaction progress, and to increase the conversion ratio to the produced methane by this lowered temperature.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED:

In an apparatus for synthesizing methane from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, a device which is capable to remove the reaction heat and lower the reaction temperature as the reaction progresses in order to increase the conversion ratio to methane has been desired.

SOLUTION:

In the present invention, powders of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate, which are chemical heat storage agents, are used as part of the fluidizing medium of the multi-stage fluidized bed in the temperature range where the methanation reaction proceeds. The heat generated during the methanation reaction can be absorbed and stored in the powder. At this time, carbon dioxide generated from magnesium carbonate can be used as a raw material gas for the methanation reaction. Furthermore, after discharging the magnesium oxide generated by endotherm, the powder can be regenerated with an external regenerating facility and then the storage heat can be released and recovered. The regenerated powder can be fed to the uppermost stage of the multi-stage fluidized bed at a temperature lower than the internal temperature of the reactor to lower inside temperature. This made it possible to lower the reaction temperature of ascending reaction gas in the reactor along with the reaction progress, and to increase the conversion ratio to the produced methane by this lowered temperature.

Divalent ions are extracted from solids by leaching to form a divalent ion-containing solution. The divalent ion-containing solution is subjected to concentration to form a concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. Precipitation of a divalent ion hydroxide salt is induced from the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. In other cases, the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution is exposed to carbon dioxide to induce precipitation of a divalent ion carbonate salt.

Divalent ions are extracted from solids by leaching to form a divalent ion-containing solution. The divalent ion-containing solution is subjected to concentration to form a concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. Precipitation of a divalent ion hydroxide salt is induced from the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. In other cases, the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution is exposed to carbon dioxide to induce precipitation of a divalent ion carbonate salt.

The present disclosure relates to methods for producing hydrogen and calcium- or magnesium-bearing carbonates by capturing, converting, and storing carbon dioxide. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds; providing one or more water-soluble oxygenates; providing a plurality of catalysts; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds and one or more water-soluble oxygenates with plurality of catalysts under conditions to produce hydrogen and calcium- or magnesium-bearing carbonates. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing silicates; providing carbon monoxide; providing water vapor; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing silicates, carbon monoxide, and water vapor. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds; providing one or more water-soluble oxygenates; providing a catalyst; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds and one or more water-soluble oxygenates with said catalyst.

The present disclosure relates to methods for producing hydrogen and calcium- or magnesium-bearing carbonates by capturing, converting, and storing carbon dioxide. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds; providing one or more water-soluble oxygenates; providing a plurality of catalysts; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds and one or more water-soluble oxygenates with plurality of catalysts under conditions to produce hydrogen and calcium- or magnesium-bearing carbonates. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing silicates; providing carbon monoxide; providing water vapor; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing silicates, carbon monoxide, and water vapor. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds; providing one or more water-soluble oxygenates; providing a catalyst; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds and one or more water-soluble oxygenates with said catalyst.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.