Solvay Process Essay

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The Solvay process The Solvay process, introduced by Ernest Solvay, is a method of making Sodium Carbonate from the raw materials, brine, limestone and ammonia. The whole process of the production of sodium carbonate is summarised in this flow chart. The overall reaction within the Solvay process [reaction] is calcium carbonate reacts with sodium chloride to form sodium carbonate and calcium chloride. This reaction does not occur in one step, as calcium carbonate does not react with sodium chloride directly. It happens in 4 steps, Brine purification, hydrogen carbonate formation, sodium carbonate formation and recovery of ammonium. Brine purification Brine is water that is nearly saturated with sodium chloride. It holds impurities such as Magnesium, Aluminium and Iron. During Brine purification, the brine is filtered and sieved to remove the insoluble impurities. Soluble impurities magnesium, aluminium and iron are precipitated by the addition of Sodium hydroxide [reaction]. A flocculant is added to clump the precipitates together, before it’s skimmed off. The brine is then evaporated, to a concentration of about 30%. The brine solution is then filtered out. Formation of hydrogen carbonate The formation of hydrogen carbonate occurs in three steps. The first step involves limestone, undergoing thermal decomposition to form carbon dioxide and calcium oxide [reaction]. The second step is where the filtered brine solution, is sent to an ammoniating tower to dissolve ammonia. This is an exothermic reaction, so the tower is cooled to 0 degrees. The third step is when the carbon dioxide is bubbled through this ammoniated brine. The overall equation for the formation of sodium hydrogen carbonate is when ammonia reacts with carbon dioxide, water and sodium chloride to form sodium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium chloride [reaction]. During this reaction the carbon

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