The dissolution of olivine in acid : a cost effective process for the elimination of waste acids
Year: 1997
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The disadvantages of continuing industrialisation, such as environmental impacts and the \ndecreasing resources of natural raw materials, have to be mitigated by the development of \nsustainable technologies. By studying geochemical processes and properties of natural \nmaterials, new sustainable processes can be designed. This field of study is known as \nGeochemical Engineering (Schuiling 1990, 1991 ). \nA typical example of Geochemical Engineering is the use of olivine for the neutralisation of \nindustrial waste acids (Schuiling et al. 1986). Olivine, the fastest weathering silicate mineral, \nis available in large quantities and provides an excellent buffer for naturally produced acids. \nThe use of olivine for the neutralization of industrial waste acids is therefore appealing. \nCompared to conventional methods for the neutralisation of waste acids, the use of olivine \nhas the advantage that it produces valuable by-products, like precipitated silica and magnetic \nferrites, while it generates no new waste streams (Schuiling et al. 1986). Since the olivine \ndissolution rate under natural conditions is too low for industrial application, the rate must be \nincreased by raising the temperature or by using higher concentrations of acid or higher \nolivine surface areas. The properties of the first by-product, precipitated silica, depend \nstrongly on the reaction conditions (Lieftink 1997). A wide range of precipitated silica \nqualities can be produced by varying temperature, grain size and quantity of olivine and acid \nconcentration. The Olivine Process may, therefore, also be considered as an interesting \nalternative for current production processes of precipitated silica. \nThe Olivine Proccess for the neutralization of waste acids was invented in 1985 at the \nUniversity of Utrecht and patented (Duth Patent PCT NL 85/00026), the patent is currently \nowned by Geochem Research B.V. From 1986-1987 research on the improvement of the \nneutralization process and on applications of the neutralization products has been carried out, \nsupported by a grant from the Dutch Ministry· of Housing and Environment (VROM). In 1993 \nresearch continued under a project financed by the E. C. Brite Euram programme titled \n"Olivine/Dunite for Industrial and Environmental Applications" (GR-OLIV BRE2-CT92- \n0.344). Part of the research carried out for this project is presented in this thesis. The main \npurpose of the investigations was to collect sufficient data, necessary for the design of a pilot \nplant.
Author: R.C.L. Jonckbloedt
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W190122781