Extraction of Potassium Sulfate from the Waste of Chlor-alkal Unit in Bandar-e-Imam Petrochemical Complex

Bandar-e Imam Petrochemical Complex uses sodium chloride in chlor-alkali unit, which is prepared by solar evaporation of Persian Gulf water in ponds. The residue liquor, after separation of sodium chloride and bittern, contains valuable chemicals such as potash and magnesium chloride.In this paper, a process for extracting potassium sulfate from Persian Gulf bittern is described. This process can recover this valuable compound from the waste of chlor-alkali unit. This method is friendlier to the environment than Mannheim process. The process temperature is 50°C and its by-product is magnesium chloride that can be used in pharmaceutical and construction industry. The disadvantages of Mannheim process include high energy consumption, severe corrosion, and high capital cost.