US 11,806,668 B2
Method and system for extraction of minerals based on divalent cations from brine
Ahmed Saleh Mohammed Alamoudi, Al-Jubail (SA); Mohammed Farooque Ayumantakath, Al-Jubail (SA); Nikolay Voutchkov, Winter Springs, FL (US); Seungwon Ihm, Al-Khobar (SA); Christopher Michael Fellows, Al-Jubail (SA); and Eslam Alwaznani, Al-Jubail (SA)
Assigned to SALINE WATER CONVERSION CORPORATION, Riyadh (SA)
Filed by Saline Water Conversion Corporation, Al-Jubail (SA)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,121.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182077 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B01D 61/02 (2006.01); B01D 9/00 (2006.01); C01F 5/34 (2006.01); C01F 11/46 (2006.01); B01D 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 61/026 (2022.08) [B01D 9/0059 (2013.01); B01D 9/02 (2013.01); C01F 5/34 (2013.01); C01F 11/468 (2013.01); B01D 2009/0086 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
 
1. A system for production of minerals from divalent ion-containing brine, comprising:
a first nanofiltration seawater reverse osmosis (NF-SWRO) membrane unit configured to receive a divalent-ion rich reject stream and to reject sulfate while allowing divalent ions to pass into a first permeate stream;
a first concentration unit configured to receive the first permeate stream and produce solid calcium sulfate dihydrate and a magnesium-rich brine stream;
a second concentration unit configured to receive and concentrate the magnesium-rich brine stream to a saturation point of sodium chloride;
a first crystallizing unit configured to receive the concentrated magnesium-rich brine stream and produce solid sodium chloride and a supernatant product stream;
a third concentration unit configured to receive the supernatant product stream and produce a concentrated magnesium-rich bittern stream; and
at least one of
a second crystallizing unit configured to dry the concentrated magnesium-rich bittern stream and produce hydrated magnesium chloride, and
a dry air process unit configured to prill the concentrated magnesium-rich bittern stream under a hydrogen chloride atmosphere to produce anhydrous magnesium chloride.