Concentration of underground brines in situ by solar evaporation
US3966541A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1975 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/40
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process is provided for the recovery of chemicals, such as chlorides, sulfates, carbonates and borates of such alkali metals as sodium and potassium, among others, from underground brines associated with an ore body containing said chemicals, wherein the underground brine is pumped to the surface and confined over said ore body where it is concentrated by solar evaporation and the concentrated brine returned to an underground basin adjacent said ore body and stored for later removal by pumping for the subsequent recovery of chemicals therefrom. Thus, solar evaporation is used to produce the desired concentration of brine to optimize the subsequent recovery of chemicals therefrom, thereby resulting in substantial savings in overall energy costs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.