| abstract |
A process for the production of soda ash by withdrawing an aqueous mining solution containing dissolved sodium carbonate and at least about 1 wt % sodium bicarbonate from an underground alkali source; stripping CO 2 gas from the withdrawn aqueous mining solution, to convert sodium bicarbonate dissolved therein to sodium carbonate; co-crystallizing sodium carbonate monohydrate and sodium sesquicarbonate by evaporation of water from the CO 2 -stripped aqueous mining solution, without co-crystallization of anhydrous sodium carbonate, to form a slurry of crystalline solids in an aqueous liquor; recovering crystalline solids from the slurry; and calcining the recovered crystalline solids to produce soda ash. |