Eka Nobel Ab

Eka Nobel

Birgitta Sundblad

Jorgen Engstrom

Johan Landfors

Goran Sundstrom

John R Winters

Gunnar P Goransson

David C Lovetro

Hans Lindberg

Bjorn H Svedin

Anders Oscar Dahl

Hans A Baltsen

A process for production of chlorine dioxide which is substantially free of by product chlorine. Chlorine-dioxide is produced from an alkali metal chlorate, a mineral acid and a reducing agent such as methanol in a reaction medium maintained at an acid normality of less than 9 and with a high chlorate molarity. The process is carried out in the substantial absence of additional chloride ion being fed to the process. It has been found that increasing the chlorate concentration at a given acid normality reduces the amount of chloride in the reaction medium thus reducing the amount of chlorine by-product. The process is carried out in a vessel operated under subatmospheric pressure, whereby water is evaporated and withdrawn together with chlorine dioxide and the alkali metal salt of the mineral acid is crystallized within the reaction vessel and withdrawn therefrom. According to the invention, high production rates with high efficiency of chlorine dioxide can be achieved while producing essentially no chlorine by-product.

Process for production of chlorine dioxide

Reduction of chloride in pulping chemical recovery systems

Process water from pulp manufacture is purified in a separator device by mechanical or a combination of mechanical and chemical methods and is thereafter evaporated, at least part of the concentrate resulting from the evaporation being recycled and mixed with the process water fed into the separator device. In a preferred embodiment, a precipitant is added to the mixed water comprising the process water and the concentrate. The part of the concentrate not recycled and mixed with the process water is supplied, optionally after further evaporation, with an acid to a pH of 1-5, whereupon resulting flocs and precipitates are removed in a separator device.

Method for purifying process water from pulp manufacture

The present invention relates to an electrochemical process for the production of sulphuric acid and alkali metal hydroxide, from an aqueous anolyte containing alkali metal sulphate. According to the invention, crystalline alkali metal sulphate is added to the anolyte, whereby the concentration of water can be maintained below about 55 percent by weight. In the electrolysis, the anolyte is brought to an electrochemical cell with a cation exchange membrane. In the cell, sulphuric acid and oxygen are formed in the anode compartment and alkali metal hydroxide and hydrogen in the cathode compartment. The steps normally preceding the electrolysis, i.e. dissolution and purification of the sulphate can be disposed of, since the process is less sensitive to impurities than the processes of the prior art. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for the production of sulphuric acid and alkali metal hydroxide according to the invention.

Process and apparatus for the production of sulphuric acid and alkali

A process for the production of chlorine dioxide by reacting an alkali metal chlorate, mineral acid and a reducing agent in such proportions that chlorine dioxide is produced in a reaction medium which is maintained at a temperature of 50.degree. C.-100.degree. C. and at an acidity within a range of 2-12 N and which is subjected to subatmospheric pressure sufficient for evaporating water. A mixture of chlorine dioxide and water vapour is withdrawn from an evaporation zone in the reaction vessel, and alkali metal sulphate is precipitated in a crystallization zone in the reaction vessel. The precipitated alkali metal sulphate is contacted with a saturated water solution of alkali metal sulphate whereafter neutral alkali metal sulphate is precipitated and dissolved in water. The water solution is brought to an electrochemical membrane cell in which sulphuric acid is formed in the anode compartment and alkali metal hydroxide in the cathode compartment.

Process for the production of chlorine dioxide

A process for the production of chlorine dioxide by reacting in a reaction vessel an alkali metal chlorate, mineral acid and a reducing agent in such proportions that chlorine dioxide is produced in a reaction medium which is maintained at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. and at an acidity within a range of from about 2 to about 11N and which is subjected to subatmospheric pressure sufficient for evaporating water. A mixture of chlorine dioxide and water vapor is withdrawn from an evaporation zone in the reaction vessel, and alkali metal sulfate is precipitated in a crystallization zone in the reaction vessel. Straight chained alcohols with the formula CH.sub.2 OH(CHOH).sub.n CH.sub.2 OH where n=0-5, are used as reducing agents. Preferred reducing agents consist of glycol or glycerol. The reaction may also be performed in the presence of a catalyst.

A process for a continuous production of chlorine dioxide in a cooled reaction vessel subjected to an overpressure, comprising continuous addition of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorate, sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide to the reaction vessel in proportions to generate chlorine dioxide at a temperature from about 30.degree. to about 60.degree. C. and at an acidity of about 5 to about 11 N. The reaction solution containing dissolved chlorine dioxide is continuously withdrawn. At the start up of the process the reaction vessel is filled with the water solution of alkali metal chlorate, optionally containing alkali metal chloride, and the sulphuric acid with a feed concentration of from about 20 to about 60 percent by weight whereafter the flows are adjusted to correspond to the production rate. Finally sulfuric dioxide is added so slowly that no gas phase is formed and the sulphuric acid flow is slowly increased until the suitable flow for the chosen production is reached.

A process for producing chlorine dioxide by reacting in a reaction vessel an alkali metal chlorate, mineral acid and a reducing agent in such proportions that chlorine dioxide is produced in a reaction medium maintained at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. and at an acidity within a range of from about 2 to about 11 N. The reaction medium is subjected to subatmospheric pressure sufficient for evaporating water, a mixture of chlorine dioxide and water vapor being withdrawn from an evaporation zone in the reaction vessel and alkali metal sulfate being precipitated in a crystallization zone in the reaction vessel. A mixture of formaldehyde and methanol is used as reducing agent.

Growing community of inventors

Sundsvall, Sweden

Birgitta Sundblad