Soda Ash Process

EUROPEAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY COUNCIL

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IPPC BAT REFERENCE DOCUMENT

LARGE VOLUME SOLID INORGANIC CHEMICALS FAMILY PROCESS BREF FOR SODA ASH

ESAPA – European Soda Ash Producers Association

Issue N°: 3 Document approved by ESAPA

Date of issue: March 2004

Soda Ash Process BREF - Issue N° 3 – March 2004

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PROCESS BREF FOR SODA ASH TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE............................................................................................................................... 8 DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................................................... 9 1. GENERAL INFORMATION ......................................................................................... 10 1.1. HISTORY OF THE PRODUCTION...................................................................... 10 1.2. OVERVIEW ABOUT TYPE OF PRODUCTION ................................................ 11 1.2.1. Solvay process ..................................................................................................... 11 1.2.2. Trona and nahcolite based process....................................................................... 11 1.2.2.1. Trona ............................................................................................................. 11 1.2.2.2. Nahcolite ....................................................................................................... 12 1.2.3. Nepheline syenite process.................................................................................... 13 1.2.4. Carbonation of caustic soda ................................................................................. 13 1.3. USES IN INDUSTRIAL SECTORS ....................................................................... 13 1.3.1. Glass industry....................................................................................................... 13 1.3.2. Detergent...