Simultaneous crystallization of sodium chloride and slightly soluble salts by batch evaporation

• Grant number: 13/01007-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Martins Seckler
• Grantee: Bruno Charak Galacini
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Industrial wastewater treatment aiming at water reuse has increased in importance due to the growing water shortage. This topic is particularly important to oil refineries since they generate large quantities of aqueous wastes. In order to attain zero water discharge in refineries, it is necessary to treat an aqueous solution containing a mixture of salt by evaporative crystallization. The simultaneous crystallization of salts is still little understood and may result in a particulate product that is unsuitable for downstream processing. Therefore, in this project, it is aimed at the study of the simultaneous crystallization of sodium chloride (NaCl) and other salts (CaCO3 and CaSO4). The study will be conducted considering the crystallization process regarding the following parameters: crystallization time, seeding, and crystallization temperature. For each parameter, the yield, the morphology, and the crystal's size distribution will be determined. (AU)